An adrenaline-charged BASE jumping event in southwest China’s Yunnan province has turned a once-isolated village into a global hotspot for extreme sports, with elite athletes from around the world performing daring stunts during the May Day holiday, drawing significant international attention.
The event is taking place at the Nizhuhe Grand Canyon in Yunnan’s Xuanwei City, where 30 elite athletes from nearly 20 countries are showcasing their skills from April 29 to May 5.
This high-flying spectacle, featuring formation skydiving and wingsuit flights, is helping establish the village as a new hub for global extreme sports tourism.
BASE jumping is a high-risk, adrenaline-fueled sport in which participants leap from fixed objects such as buildings, bridges, cliffs and antennas, using parachutes to descend. The acronym "BASE" stands for Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges) and Earth (cliffs), and the sport demands precision, timing, and control for safe landings.
"I'm feeling good. I'm excited. Very excited," said Australian BASE jumper Freedom Salomonsson, expressing her exhilaration before leaping from the platform.
From pinpoint jumps and acrobatic dives to wingsuit flights, these seasoned athletes have transformed the once-unknown canyon into a spectacular arena of courage and skill.
"The platform hanging out from the cliff and the glass bridge, they just look spectacular to BASE jumpers. And the instant I saw it, it's like 'I have to go there and jump that,' and the dream became a reality," said Gary Cunningham, Australian BASE jumper.
Despite the sport’s daring nature, participants emphasized safety.
"This object is built solidly, and it's safe; that is important. Also, the bridge is built at a safe altitude. If you have some mishap, you can recuperate, and it's safe, and it is really a good thing to do new stuff," said Croatian BASE jumper Igor Palijas.
Some athletes added a creative twist to the event, like French jumper Freddy Montigny, who glided with a flying carpet.
"It's a mix between having fun and innovation. I'm doing the fundamental research job like a crazy scientist. And hopefully, later, it can improve maybe the wingsuit, maybe make it bigger, maybe adjust it, and everything," Montigny said.
For years, Nizhuhe was a remote village defined by poverty and rugged terrain, with locals relying on foot travel and manual labor. However, China's poverty alleviation initiatives have transformed the region, turning the dramatic cliffs into an asset for tourism.
With the successful BASE jumping event bringing global attention to this once-forgotten location, the influx of tourists has created new economic opportunities for locals.
"When all our rooms are fully booked, we can earn over 3,000 yuan (about 412.58 U.S. dollars) a day. We used to be engaged in farm work, but we've stopped farming now. We're even helping our neighbors grow with us, such as hiring them to clean, which earns them 130 yuan (about 17.88 U.S. dollars) daily," said Zhu Caihua, a local guesthouse owner.
China's expanded visa-free policies have further facilitated travel for international participants, many of whom are eager to return and explore more of the country.
"Please have me back. I’d love to come back to China. We love it here," said Sam Hardy, a British BASE jumper.
As athletes dive into the gorge, they also dive into a broader story of transformation, as Nizhuhe evolves from an isolated, poverty-stricken village into a renowned destination for thrill-seekers and adventurers, driven by China's poverty alleviation program and the growth of tourism initiatives.
BASE Jumping event draws in global athletes to boost tourism in Yunnan village
