Chinese 'Spider-Woman' Scales 100-Metre Cliffs Without Safety Gears With Bare Hands

A 43-year-old woman from China, Luo Dengpin, is receiving global acclaim for her remarkable ability to scale cliffs over 100 meters high without the aid of any safety equipment. Known as the "Chinese Spider-Woman," Luo is the only female practitioner of the ancient Miao tradition of bare-handed rock climbing, a skill that has left many in awe of her effortless climbs on vertical rock faces.Luo hails from Ziyun Miao and Buyei counties in southwestern China, where her daring feats have captivated audiences worldwide. She can climb cliffs as tall as 108 metres, the height of a 30-storey building, drawing attention for performing these extreme stunts without ropes or harnesses. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that Luo remains the sole female climber in a region famous for its "spider people."Her journey began at age 15 under her father’s guidance, initially as a way to prove her abilities to the boys who believed the activity was only suited for men. “They said this was only for boys, but I believe men and women are equal, so I learned. That is how my journey as a spider woman began," Luo told the BBC in 2017.Originally, Luo's climbing skills served a practical purpose—gathering medicinal herbs and swallows’ droppings from the cliffs, which she sold as fertiliser. "Before this area was developed, I climbed every day to collect swallows' droppings. Foreigners were often frightened by our bare-handed climbing, but I grew accustomed to it. After doing it so many times, my hands became callused," Luo shared with Shandong TV.Her talents are rooted in the ancient Miao tradition of cliff burials, where the Miao people bury their dead on high cliffs to allow them to look towards their ancestral homeland. Over time, these burial practices led to the development of advanced climbing skills that were passed down through generations.Today, Luo’s abilities have become a popular tourist attraction, with visitors paying to watch her perform her daring climbs. "My income isn't high, but I take pride in being a spider woman," she said, expressing her satisfaction in preserving her heritage and continuing the ancient tradition that has defined her life.