At the time, language barriers posed a challenge since her English wasn't proficient. She also wasn't the most athletic person, and the rigorous training almost made her want to quit.
Most importantly, both tandem and solo jumpers need strong mental resilience — a quality she initially felt she lacked.
"I must be the most timid skydiver ever," she joked.
While professional athletes typically jump from heights of 1,000 meters, giving them little time before deploying their parachutes, recreational jumpers like Li usually start from 3,000 to 4,000 meters, enjoying a longer free fall.
"Free-falling is one of my favorite parts of skydiving. It feels like you're flying. You're focused on the moment, fully immersed in it," said Li. "Another thing I love is the view, especially at sunrise and sunset. The world is so beautiful that it makes me realize that the problems I have back on the ground aren't that important after all."
