Most people struggle to hike steep mountains on their feet, but 38-year-old Sun Guo Shan is doing it on his hands — and he’s not stopping anytime soon.
Sun, a former educator, started handstand climbing in May 2023, seeing it as both a fitness challenge and a way to showcase China’s breathtaking mountains.
His goal? To climb 50 of the country's most famous peaks by spring 2025.
A Viral Sensation
While Sun began his journey in May 2024, he only shot to fame in November when a video of him scaling Haibat, the highest peak of Wudang Mountain at 1,612 meters, went viral.
His unique style — walking on his hands up hundreds of stone steps — captured the imagination of millions.
“Every Chinese person has a dream of martial arts in their heart,” Sun said, as cited by OC. “I want to complete China’s 50 famous mountains in my own special way.”
His toughest challenge yet? Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, which has 999 steep steps. In December 2024, Sun completed the brutal climb in five hours, falling nearly 100 times along the way.
“This is the 34th mountain I’ve tackled and by far the hardest,” he admitted.
With 16 mountains left, Sun hopes to finish his challenge this spring and apply for a Guinness World Record. If accepted, he could be recognized as the first person to conquer multiple mountains entirely on his hands.
