Mountain route thrilling tourists with amazing view

The Laojun Mountain tourist resort in Lijiang city recently gained fame as an outdoor sports hot spot with its high-altitude Via Ferrata route.

The word Via Ferrata is Italian, meaning iron path. It is a new type of outdoor activity involving rock climbing and steel cables.

Characterized by red sandstone and stunning landscapes, the Via Ferrata in Laojun Mountain is terrific, said He Pingsheng, director of Laojun Mountain administration bureau.

It is the highest-altitude route in China (2,400 to 2,700 meters) and has the greatest height difference (75 to 210 meters), according to He.

Laojun Mountain is located at Yulong county in Lijiang city, a place that lies on the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The steep cliffs, dense forests and majestic lakes make it an attractive destination for outdoor sports fans.

Via Ferrata fans challenge themselves at the high-attitude Via Ferrata route in Laojun Mountain tourist reaort. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"As the country's highest Via Ferrata, Laojun Mountain has given people the opportunity to challenge themselves," said He.

As most of the rocks here are vertical, visitors should hold the "life lock" carefully when transferring from one wire to another during the climb.

The higher they climb, the more terrified they will become. When climbers become skillful they can dare to look at the unique mountain scenery and admire its beauty.

A lover of climbing who has experienced the Laojun Mountain Via Ferrata said that the scenery is so beautiful that any tension disappears.

In recent years, the number of tourist receptions and income in the scenic spot have continued to increase. In 2018, Laojun Mountain received 53,242 tourists, an increase of 33.37 percent over the same period last year. It made a total tourism income of 12.61 million yuan ($1.88 million), an increase of 93.08 percent over the same period last year.

A view of Laojun Figure, a height of what can be seen from the heights of Laojun Mountain.[Photo provided to China Daily]

However, Laojun Mountain area is not only a scenic spot, but a heritage site with a fragile ecology. A section of the local population still struggles with poverty. The task of easing poverty through tourism is difficult.

According to He, in recent years the local administration has been sticking to the protection of natural resource and heritage. Mining is banned and the construction of hydropower stations, roads and large-scale tourist facilities that may affect the ecological environment is strictly controlled.