The 2026 IFSC Climbing World Cup (Keqiao, China) concluded on May 3 at the Yangshan Climbing Center in Keqiao District, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. A total of 142 athletes from over 30 countries and regions competed, treating spectators during the May Day holiday to a top-tier climbing spectacle.
As the host, China fielded a full squad of seven male and seven female athletes, using the competition to sharpen skills and build depth for future challenges. Keqiao, continuing to explore the “Climbing+” development model, leveraged its Asian Games legacy, natural landscape resources, and event management expertise. While cementing its reputation as an “international climbing event hub,” the district also presented a vivid example of culture-tourism-sports integration during the May Day break.
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World’s Best Gather at Premier Climbing Venue
As the first climbing World Cup of the 2026 IFSC calendar, the event featured nearly all of the world’s top 10 male and female climbers, with only one absence. Among the star-studded field were two-time Olympic champion Janja Garnbret of Slovenia; Paris Olympic men’s combined champion Toby Roberts of Great Britain; 2025 Seoul World Championships bouldering winner Sorato Anraku of Japan; recent Asian Championships bouldering gold medalist Lee Do-hyun of South Korea; and Pan Yufei, who won China’s first climbing World Cup gold medal.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics separating climbing and bouldering into distinct events based on difficulty, many athletes are now focusing on their specialized disciplines to achieve precise breakthroughs. In women’s bouldering, 22-year-old French climber Zelia Avezou claimed her first senior World Cup victory in Keqiao. In men’s bouldering, six of the eight finalists had previously won World Cup titles, making the competition exceptionally fierce.
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Local Impact: Keqiao Builds ‘Climbing+’ Model on Asian Games Legacy
After successfully hosting the climbing events of the Hangzhou Asian Games, Keqiao District has continued to leverage the Asian Games legacy to develop a sustainable “Climbing+” model. The Yangshan Climbing Center, a permanent high-capacity venue fully equipped for international competitions, has established a mature event operation service system and carved out a unique presence on the global climbing map.
In recent years, Keqiao has deepened the integration of sports and education, innovating talent cultivation models for competitive sports. The “climbing into schools” initiative has helped the sport take root among young people. The district has also actively recruited top coaches and mobilized social forces to boost sports vitality, building a comprehensive talent selection and pipeline system that continuously supplies “Keqiao power” to China’s climbing development.
While hosting the Climbing World Cup for three consecutive years and building itself into an “international climbing event hub,” Keqiao also showcased a lively model of culture-tourism-sports integration during this year’s May Day holiday. Many sports enthusiasts and family visitors planned their trips well in advance, booking event tickets and nearby accommodations online. Hotels and homestays near Keqiao’s urban areas and scenic spots saw sustained booking surges, with rooms in short supply.
Tourists from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Jiangsu, and other surrounding provinces made special trips to Shaoxing during the holiday. While watching world-class climbing competitions, they also visited iconic attractions such as Keqiao Ancient Town, Keyan Scenic Area, and Cangqiao Straight Street, immersing themselves in the unique charm of Jiangnan water towns. This allowed them to enjoy both top-tier sports viewing and a rich cultural-tourism experience.
