A 'companion climbing team' at Emei Mountain in Sichuan, China, assists tourists in climbing the mountain using methods such as carrying on the shoulder, piggybacking, and 'princess carry,' which has drawn attention and discussion. However, it has also attracted criticism, with some believing that this way of climbing is meaningless and seems to have 'sexual innuendo' connotations. In response, the head team leader has addressed the concerns himself.
According to comprehensive reports from 'Jiupai News' and 'Red Star News', staff from the Emei Mountain scenic area told reporters that the companion climbing service is not an official service of the scenic area but a private activity. "As for whether it pushes the boundaries, we will report this to higher authorities."
The team’s chief leader, Yang Wenyu, is 25 years old this year. Since forming the companion climbing team last October, the main purpose has been to ensure tourist safety. Team members have solid physical fitness, skills in wilderness survival, medical aid, and handling emergencies, and also explain the culture and scenery of Emei Mountain. To date, the team has accompanied more than 1,000 tourists in climbing, around 90% of whom are female, with an average age of about 30.
In a media interview on the 27th, Yang Wenyu explained that companion climbers do not take the initiative to touch clients. If a client is too tired to go on and requests to be carried, only then do they offer help, using carrying, pulling, or piggybacking to assist the climb. Their main responsibilities are ensuring safety, guiding the way, and scaring off monkeys and snakes.
It is understood that the companion climbing team's one-on-one price is 798 yuan RMB, and for one-on-two, it is 598 yuan RMB per person. Generally, a round-trip climb takes about two days. Yang Wenyu revealed that during peak seasons, with more tourists, monthly income can exceed 10,000 yuan RMB, while in off-peak periods, the income drops to only 3,000-4,000 yuan RMB.