College athlete offers mountain piggyback rides, goes viral in China

A mother's unique solution to climbing Taishan Mountain in Shandong province with her 3-year-old daughter has gone viral online. She paid 518 yuan ($71) to hire a sports major college student to carry her daughter to the top.

Videos online show a young man effortlessly carrying the toddler up the mountain's steps, sparking awe and envy among fellow climbers. "His stamina is amazing, not a single hunch over, even taking two steps at a time," one netizen remarked. "This is a great application of his skills, putting his learning to good use," said another.

The mother, from Shandong, told media outlet City Link that she originally bought a child carrier for her husband, but he was busy with their elder child's college entrance exams. So she turned to online help and found college athletics student, Fu Linghai, to assist in carrying their daughter to the summit.

Fu, a second-year sports major in Jinan, Shandong, shared that this was his first time carrying someone up Taishan Mountain. "I come from Chengde, Hebei province, where my family's financial situation is not great. I'm still studying, but taking on part-time jobs helps me earn some living expenses and lessen the burden on my family," Fu said.

On June 4, Fu met the family at the foot of Taishan Mountain. "The little girl is adorable and was very well-behaved and cooperative on my back. I felt relaxed going up the mountain. If I got tired, I would stop and rest for a minute. By the time I reached the summit, I didn't feel particularly exhausted," he said.

Fu completed the ascent carrying the child in just over two hours. "After the descent, I felt some normal fatigue, but after a good sleep, I felt perfectly fine the next day," he added.

Taishan Mountain, with its 7,000 steps equivalent to nearly 300 floors, proved no match for the young athlete. Since the video went viral, Fu has received numerous requests from people of all ages interested in his "climbing and carrying service."

"Climbing alone can be lonely and tiring. Having someone to support you, offer emotional encouragement, and motivate each other can make a big difference," Fu said. However, he emphasized safety as a top priority. "I won't carry adults up the mountain due to safety concerns. And the weight limit for children is around 20 kilograms."

Fu plans to continue offering his company and carrying services to help others climbing mountains during weekends and breaks.