Legless man conquers Taishan Mountain in 21 hours

On Sunday, 31-year-old Wang Jiade, a man without legs, reached the summit of Taishan Mountain, a popular scenic spot known for its steep terrain with over 7,000 steps. It took him 21 hours to fulfill his dream of reaching the peak, relying solely on the strength of his arms.

"At the beginning, I didn't feel much pressure, but when I reached the middle, I was on the verge of giving up. I was completely exhausted," said Wang.

"Along the way, many strangers offered encouragement, and when I finally made it to the summit, I couldn't believe how far I had come. It was all worth it," he said.

By the time he descended the mountain, he was completely drained, unable to hold a water bottle. Despite the physical toll, Wang expressed his desire to conquer other mountains.

Wang lost his legs at the age of 19 after falling into a factory machine.

"I once thought about giving up on life," he said. "But I was inspired by the story of Chen Zhou, and I decided to live fully."

Over the past decade, Wang has been training his upper body strength through activities like climbing and push-ups.

Chen Zhou is a motivational speaker and singer from Linyi, Shandong province. Born in 1983, Chen lost his legs at the age of 13 after falling from a train. Determined not to burden his family, he left home and became a wandering singer.

In 2012, Chen made headlines by climbing China's five major mountains, including Taishan Mountain, using only his arms.