In China, people pay a lot for attractive climbing partners

In China, people pay a lot for attractive climbing partners

Wendy Chen decided to take on a challenge and to climb the famous mountain Tai in East China. But an obstacle stood in her way: she found no friend who wanted to accompany her on the five -hour hike. Instead of giving up her plans, the 25-year-old hired a "climbing buddy", a young man with a comprehensive experience outdoors who should support her for the 1,500 meter high summit.

The trend of the "Climbing Buddies"

known in China as "Pei Pa" (which "accompanying while climbing"), these young men are ready to accompany strangers on their travels to popular mountains for a fee. The trend has won this year; Hashtags for "Climbing Buddy" achieve over 100 million views on social media in China.

profile and cost

Active young people, often students or even military veterans, apply on platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin with profiles, contain your size, fitness levels and hiking experience. The prices per excursion are usually between 200 and 600 yuan ($ 30 to 85).

a day on the mountain

chen's adventure started around 8:00 p.m. to get to the summit in good time to the famous sunrise. After her climbing Buddy assessed her fitness level, he planned a moderate route and wore her backpack throughout the climb. When they were confronted with cold wind on the summit, their buddy rented a thick jacket for them and instructed them to go into a protected area.

The perfect memory photo

At sunrise, her climbing Buddy was already equipped with a national flag and other props to take an unforgettable photo. Although she believed that his photographic skills were still expandable, she judged her buddy as "satisfactory". The service cost her 350 Yuan ($ 49). Chen found that good -looking buddies could request higher prices. "Attractiveness is also part of her strength," she noted.

the customers and changes in the market

The main customers of the climbing buddies are usually single young women, but this is slowly changing. A viral video showed a strong student who effortlessly carried a three -year -old child up a steep mountain while the mother horned far behind.

success in the professional field "Climbing Buddy"

Chris Zhang, a 20-year-old student, took the opportunity this summer. While some of his fellow students chose traditional internships, Zhang introduced himself as climbing Buddy online. In view of the demand during the national holidays, he has earned over 20,000 Yuan ($ 2,800) in the past three months. In the same period, some of his fellow students only earned 2,000 yuan ($ 280) during an internship in customer service.

The change in the career

Zhang says that as a climbing Buddy, he not only has a higher content, but also the freedom to be outside instead of sitting in front of a computer all day. Other buddies, like Chen Wudi, see this as a serious business. The 27-year-old gave up his love for hiking after a stressful sales job in April and became full-time climbing Buddy. Chen currently accepts almost 40 bookings per month and earns around 20,000 Yuan ($ 2,800) per month. This exceeds the average monthly salary in China, according to the current government data.

challenges in the job

Although Chen achieves good income, he confesses that the work may not be sustainable because it is physically very exhausting. "It hurts my knees very much, so maybe I will only be able to continue for a few months or half a year," says Chen.

an unregulated market

The popularity of paid climbing buddies has also raised some concerns. The market is currently unregulated. Critics warn of possible security risks, especially for young single women or those with small children. There are concerns that non -verified guides could lead amateur climbers into potentially dangerous situations. In addition, the trend could lead to possible crime incidents; There are reports on fraudulent machinations.

opportunities for the youth

Despite these challenges, working as a climbing Buddy offers many young people in China to make money quickly while working out their long -term plans. Chen Wudi is aware that this job could not be permanent, but he says: "I like hiking and visiting new places. And it deserves enough to support my life."