SINGAPORE: “I’ve climbed Mount Tai many times, so I’m not afraid of any weather condition!” proclaims one of many similar posts on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu.
Initially coming across as bragging, these users are actually marketing their services: To be climbing buddies – for a price – for people who want to hike up one of China’s most famous mountains, Mount Tai.
Colloquially known as “pei pa”, meaning “accompany (you to) climb”), it’s been an emerging trend in the country over the Mid-Autumn break and upcoming National Day holiday in October, according to local media reports.
It’s also drawn attention to the growing “companionship economy”, or “peiban jingji” in Mandarin, in China as more people stay single amid rising costs of living and a fiercely competitive job market.
CLIMBING WITH COMPANY – FOR A PRICE
Experienced climbers would offer “climbing buddy” services on online platforms, including Xiaohongshu, to tourists who want to go climbing over the holidays, including famous peaks such as Mount Tai in Shandong province and Mount Emei in Sichuan province.
Checks by CNA on Xiaohongshu found many users – mostly young, athletic men – offering to accompany aspiring mountain climbers. Physical measurements like their height, weight and age were typically included in the posts.
One post by user Xitian from Shandong offered services to climbers who wished to hike up Mount Tai. Xitian, a university student, offered a rate of 399 yuan (US$56.49) a day with a 100 yuan deposit.
In his post, Xitian introduced himself as a former soldier who has hiked up Mount Tai “many times”. He also offers additional services if engaged – be it a hiking stick, one-use poncho or taking photos for free.
Xitian also stated he has a “special pass” at Mount Tai, and hence those interested would not be required to buy tickets to enter the place. However, interested climbers would have to cover his transport costs, lodgings and other necessary expenses except for food.
A report by the state-run Guangming Daily on Tuesday (Sep 17) stated that many of these climbers have seen an increase in bookings due to recent and upcoming holidays, like the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day.
The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday ran from Sep 15 to 17 Sep, while the National Day break is set for Oct 1 to Oct 7. Some climbers told the newspaper they were fully booked from mid-September till mid-October.
At the same time, the report warned of safety concerns with “pei pa” services as they’re not formalised as a profession, and hence lack proper regulations or oversight.
Referring to Mount Tai, Guangming Daily pointed out that scaling the 1,545m-tall peak is no easy feat, requiring a certain level of endurance and physical strength. It added that this is a particular concern for elderly tourists or those with children.
While some of the people offering “pei pa” services are mountain climbers, most are university students, the report stated, adding that hostel owners also make up the list.
In June, local news site The Paper reported that a mother hired a university student to hike up Mount Tai with her three-year-old daughter. Photos showed the student carrying the child on his back as they went up together.
SEEKING OUT COMPANIONS
This latest trend has drawn fresh attention to the growing “companionship economy” in the world’s second-largest economy. The term refers to a practice where people fork out money for companionship in anything from gaming, to shopping and even bungee jumping.
The practice has grown in popularity in recent years, according to local media reports. It comes as more people in China opt out of or delay marriage as they confront issues like rising costs and a hyper-competitive job market.
The number of Chinese couples who got married in the first half of the year fell to its lowest level since 2013, official data showed. A total of 3.43 million couples tied the knot in the first six months of the year, a drop of 498,000 from the same period a year ago.
A report by state news agency Xinhua in Sep 2023 acknowledged the merits of the “companionship economy”, pointing out how it can provide flexible employment opportunities while also fulfilling people’s needs.
At the same time, the report noted that the lack of oversight could lead to issues like fraud and scams. More efforts need to be made to improve service quality, regulate the sector and protect consumers’ rights, it added.