LIU YONGZHONG, born in 1968, isn’t an athlete, but he is keen on different types of sports and outdoor activities, from long-distance cycling to half marathons, full marathons and snow mountain climbing.

In the past nine years, he has successfully summited 11 snow mountains 8,000 meters above sea level.

Liu called the year 2017 a bumper year for a lucky mountaineer.

On April 30 this year, Liu climbed the world’s seventh-tallest mountain, 8,167-meter Dhaulagiri, and on July 28, he completed 8,611-meter Mount Qogir, also known as K2. Earlier this August, Liu finished 8,047-meter Broad Peak and in September, he plans to conquer the 8,125-meter Nanga Parbat.

Liu is a native of Pinghu, Longgang District. He started his own decoration company in 1992 and was fascinated with traveling around China in his jeep and attending outdoor contests and mountaineering expeditions.

“Before age 50, I want to complete the 14 mountains in the world that are 8,000 meters above sea level, and now 11 have been completed,” said Liu, who returned to Shenzhen to rest, in an interview with the Shenzhen Evening News recently.

In 2007, Liu, now vice president of the Longgang Mountaineering Association, had the idea of conquering the mountains that are 8,000 meters above sea level. In 2009, Liu started preparing for Qomolongma, also known as Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

“It is rare for a mountaineer to try the tallest mountain in the world when they start to conquer the mountains 8,000 meters above sea level,” said Liu at an experience-sharing meeting at a park museum in Pinghu.

“You can feel the beauty of nature and mountains while climbing, experience psychological and physical extremes, and illusions as well,” said Liu, recalling his recent trips to K2 and Broad Peak.

“The biggest challenge for a climber is to learn and know when to give up,” Liu told his friends at the experience-sharing meeting.

Over nine years, Liu has quit four times before reaching the summit, although they were only hundreds of meters, and even within 100 meters, from the top.

“For an experienced mountaineer, it is wise to give up at the appropriate time,” said Liu.

Liu has given up on Nanga Parbat twice. In June this year, Liu and his team started to conquer Nanga Parbat. But after 24 hours, they had only climbed to 7,920 meters because the snow was too thick.

“We returned to base camp after 44 hours without rest and I almost had frostbite,” said Liu.

Liu also quit Lhotse on two occasions, which he plans to conquer next May.

Liu quit in April 2015 due to the earthquake in Nepal that left five climbers in his advanced team buried in snow and rocks. In May 2016, Liu quit for the second time after a guide fell from the front and down into the valley.

“It is not a surprise to see bodies along the route to the top. After seeing so many deaths, we learn to cherish our life,” said Liu.

Liu is also head of the Pinghu Cycling Association. Besides mountaineering, Liu is responsible for organizing different sports activities.

(Han Ximin)