Firmly gripping a pair of ice axes while carefully securing his boot crampons on the frozen wall, Zhang Wei felt a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"It's so cool to go ice climbing right in the city," the 28-year-old software engineer said after his climb at a recently opened indoor ice-climbing center in Chengdu Future Science and Technology City in Sichuan province.

"The focus it demands, the cold air on your face, the sound of tools biting into the ice … it completely clears your mind of daily stress," added Zhang, one of a growing number of urban professionals and adventure sports enthusiasts flocking to Ice Panda, China's first urban ice-climbing venue.

Opened in January, the facility at the Futian Transport Oriented Development commercial complex spans 1,600 square meters and features a professionally designed, 12.5-meter main ice wall with multiple levels of difficulty. Climbers of varying skill levels can choose from a 60-degree gentle slope, a 79-degree steep slope or a 90-degree vertical ice wall.

An hour-long beginner's package with full gear is priced at 498 yuan ($72). For non-beginners, venue access alone costs 198 yuan per hour.

"The texture of the real ice immediately got me into the zone," said a veteran climber surnamed Li, who made a special trip from Chongqing. "In the past, I had to wait for winter and head to the icefalls in western Sichuan. Now, with this indoor facility, I can come anytime, all year round."

A woman surnamed Ye, who just completed her first-ever ice climb at the facility, said the venue is easily accessible by subway and offers full equipment rental services, making it especially convenient for beginners.

Ice Panda general manager Li Changbin said that after trial operations began in October, his team spent months gathering feedback from customers and professional climbers to optimize the facility. The focus was on enhancing ice wall quality and slope design to ensure the venue is suitable for beginners learning foundational skills, while also realistically replicating the outdoor ice-climbing environment.

"For example, we embedded a fiber mesh into the ice to simulate the texture of glacial ice formed when snowmelt mixes with grass and twigs," Li said, adding that this enhances the climbing surface's structural integrity and its tool-holding capacity.

Li emphasized that Ice Panda is a comprehensive base committed to promoting ice climbing culture. During its trial phase, the facility partnered with renowned outdoor brands to host exchange meetings and collaborated with elite climbers to offer public classes.

"A series of brand collaborations and community events are already in the pipeline," Li said. "Our goal is to transform ice climbing from an extreme sport into a fashionable and healthy lifestyle."

Since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics ignited the nation's passion for winter sports, the provincial capital of Chengdu — a gateway to the rich natural icefall resources in western Sichuan — has seen a surge in public interest in ice climbing. Huang Siyuan, a local coach, said training at an indoor facility is an excellent option before heading to outdoor icefalls because it helps beginners develop skills while avoiding unnecessary risks.

Local authorities said the opening of Ice Panda aligns with Chengdu Future Science and Technology City's broader strategy to advance the integrated development of culture, commerce, sports and tourism with other business formats within the Futian TOD — a local consumption landmark — to better meet the diverse needs of residents and visitors.

pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn