The North Face® and Black Diamond present The North Face® / Black Diamond Yangshuo Climbing Festival

To promote the raw and exciting experience of rock climbing while strengthening bonds in the climbing community, The North Face® has teamed up with professional rock climbing and skiing equipment producer Black Diamond to launch "The North Face®/Black Diamond Yangshuo Climbing Festival".

From 31 October to 2 November 2008, international rock climbing fanatics will converge in the beautiful city of Yangshuo, where they will have the chance to both put their skills to the test and exchange tips, tricks and recommendations with climbers from all over the world. Renowned across the globe for being both stunningly beautiful and a centre of rock climbing in China, the city of Yangshuo in Guangxi province proudly hosts some of the top cliffs and rock faces to be found in the country, attracting cream of the crop in the climbing world.

The main venue of this year's Yangshuo Climbing Festival is White Mountain, boasting a steep cliff measuring 90 degrees and a handful of routes with difficulty rating of over 5.13 – which are only for professional athletes. For those at the medium and junior levels, there are routes ready to be tackled on Wine Bottle and The Egg. Although both courses will be a stern test of skills, the slope at Wine Bottle is more difficult, while The Egg is ideal for beginners. And you will find routes of all levels to satisfy every type of climbing enthusiast, with routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.14.

The competition is bringing internationally renowned athletes, including legends Cedar Wright sponsored by The North Face® and Black Diamond, The North Face® athlete James Pearson and Black Diamond athlete Kate Rutherford. Not only will they bring buzz to proceedings, they will also share their experience in rock climbing with practical tips and a live demonstration. Also joining this event will be two Chinese rock climbing record holders, Black Diamond Athlete Liu Yongbang, and climbing star Xie Weicheng, co-sponsored by The North Face® and Black Diamond.

There will also be a race that encourages people to try all the different climbing routes and their varying difficulty levels. Unlike many other competitions, points are assigned to each track according to skill level, and climbers who complete more routes will have a higher chance of winning. The format provides opportunities for medium-level climbers to challenge for honours, while passionate junior participants can also take a chance and go for the top in the competition.

Aside from climbing, The North Face®/Black Diamond Yangshuo Climbing Festival also features a host of entertainment including an instructional video on rock climbing, slide shows, and a large barbeque feast. To add extra excitement, a grand lucky draw will offer a wide range of rock climbing equipment and related products to winners, providing a great finish to what will no doubt be a memorable festival.

For more information on the above event, please visit www.ysclimbfest.com.cn.