Photos from Northwest University's official microblog

Northwest University recently set up a tree-climbing course as an outdoor sports elective for postgraduate students, according to the official microblog of the Shaanxi Education Department.

In order to help students learn about tree climbing, there are 16 classes throughout the course of the semester, divided into six subjects. Those subjects are: equipment usage, field survival, climbing and rappelling, rope techniques, directional techniques and first-aid skills.

Twenty-four students enrolled in the first tree-climbing course, including 13 female students and 11 male students. By now, after two classes, the attendance rate indicates that students are indeed interested in the subject.

Chen Chao, the course instructor, introduced the preparatory steps for tree climbing. First, the climber should check whether there are slopes, puddles or electrified wires around. If not, the next step is to walk around the tree to check for damage to the trunk and roots, as well as to look for dead wood and hornets’ nests. The last step is to examine the equipment and perform the gravity test.

Li Yang, secretary of the Sports Instruction and Research Department of Northwest University, explained that the course allows for interdisciplinary studies with the departments of bioscience, geology and cultural heritage studies. As far as downsides to the course, Li said the only major concern is safety.

Li explained that students first proposed such a course two years ago. Northwest University is the first school in the northwestern provinces and the second school in China to introduce a tree-climbing course so far. Xiamen University was the first to try it.

Ren Guanwei, the deputy director, said that the course is still a work-in-progress. There have already been in-class exams, but the scores will not be included in students' final grades. Additionally, the equipment being used right now is personally provided by the instructors. How much the university will spend on its own equipment is still under discussion.