Bu Jieru is one of the few women participants at the ice climbing competition in Beijing's Yunmengxia Valley.[Photo by Wei Xiaohao/China Daily]

Over Jan 7-9, Beijing hosted its first UIAA Ice Climbing World Cup, co-sponsored by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation.

Unlike rock climbing that does not require much gear, ice climbers need axes and crampons.

Canadian rock-climbing enthusiast Gavin Boyle was one of the foreign participants at the Yunmengxia Valley competition.

He says he had thought ice climbing was easy before he tried it out.

"When you see ice climbers in a film, the crampons and axes go effortlessly into the ice," says Boyle, who has been into rock climbing for two and a half years.

"The ice seems as smooth as butter."

But Boyle says that ice climbing is a sport that is both physically and mentally demanding.

"I was completely exhausted," says Boyle, after his climb.

"Your body and mind play tricks on you."