A story about going to Sichuan Province, China to start playing pack crafts [Part 1: China, the first time in 8 years, was too exciting in many ways]
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
I've been interested in packrafting for a long time, so I finally decided to start
It probably goes without saying, but a packraft is an inflatable boat that can be easily carried and used to move on water
They are so easy that even complete beginners can learn to paddle right away, and some models are stable enough to be used in technical whitewater (strong currents).However, they are also lightweight and compact, so they can be easily packed into a backpack and carried on long trips
My passion for mountains began with canyoning and mountain skiing, and I think the true joy of the mountains is drawing my own path (footprints) that aren't marked on any map. So, packrafting, which will broaden my range of activities and allow me to draw my own unique travel routes that were previously impossible, is bound to resonate with me. It's bound to be a ton of fun
However, even though I fantasized about it, I couldn't actually get started, but it was my encounter with a certain packraft brand that gave me the push I needed
MRS an up-and-coming packraft manufacturer based in Sichuan Province, China, which is rapidly making a name for itself, offered to let me use a packraft for an extended period of time, on the condition that I write an article. Not only that, they even said, "We'll invite you to their office in Chengdu, so why not come and do an interview?", which I was beyond grateful for. The time when I made all sorts of excuses to not do it was over. Finally, I could hear the sound of a new door called packraft opening before my eyes.
China has changed so much in eight years
So, one day in April, I, a complete novice who had never even ridden a packraft, set off for Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to meet the founder and designer of the professional packraft brand MRS Arata , who helped me set up this encounter and is probably the person in Japan who is most knowledgeable about the Chinese outdoors .
It's been eight years since I last visited China. The last time was in 2017, when I went alone to cover an outdoor show in Nanjing. Compared to then, China has undergone a dramatic transformation that far exceeds my imagination
While Japan seems to be struggling to change, with its huge modern airports, high-tech electric cars, an economy where smartphone payments are the norm (credit cards were still accepted eight years ago), and Shinkansen trains where even foreigners can make reservations and receive ID verification via smartphone (analog ticket machines were still in use eight years ago), it feels like the UK has taken not just one, not two, but perhaps 100 steps ahead
Electric cars are so futuristic, with voice control being the norm, one-button automatic parking, and massage seats. I'd heard they were popular in China, but I had no idea they were this popular
Of course, there are negative aspects, such as a strict surveillance society and top-down, intransigent reforms, and there are still many areas of development that have been left behind. It is true that many problems are expected to await in the future as the country's rapid development begins to reverse. However, it is also true that China's current development has been supported by an aggressive (for better or worse) determination to move forward regardless of such chaotic circumstances, and as a result, I have come to realize that in many areas Japan has been left so far behind that it is completely unable to compete. Hmmm
While cutting-edge electric vehicles traverse the center lane of the wide road, old-fashioned mopeds and electric cubs scurry back and forth on either side. A disparity and a bit of chaos
Authentic Sichuan cuisine is so spicy that even Japanese spicy food is insufferable. Even Chinese people outside of Sichuan are shocked by the level of spiciness
Perhaps due to the influence of yellow sand, the day was somehow hazy despite being sunny, but I was gazing blankly at the endless blue sky, and soon I arrived at the MRS factory and office. MRS is based in a corner of an industrial park on the outskirts of Chengdu, a short distance from the center of the city
This seems to be an area where many automakers and parts manufacturers are concentrated, and many Chinese manufacturers are securing factories, offices, and warehouses in one place in industrial parks like this, allowing them to speedily advance development and production, just like in Japan, where manufacturing was once thriving
MRS was located in a corner of an industrial park where small and medium-sized manufacturers were gathered in individual blocks. Most of the people commuted by car or scooter
The industrial park had a cafeteria and a gym like this one, as well as a wide range of employee welfare facilities
On the stairs just inside the entrance, you will find numerous patents and trademarks acquired both domestically and internationally
In the afternoon, we had a long talk with Mr. Luo, the founder, current CEO and designer of MRS, in the showroom and reception area of the office
It covers not only the origins of the brand, but also the fun and enjoyment of packrafting, the state of outdoor packrafting in China, how people generally spend their leisure time in China, and even economic and cultural customs
Among the various topics discussed, what was particularly interesting was Mr. Luo's vitality in building the brand from scratch to a quality that is accepted worldwide, and his good nature as a person. Furthermore, despite being a Chinese brand, it is often more advanced in terms of technology and spirit than Japanese manufacturers
I felt a little embarrassed about having such prejudices, and I realized that the information gap has completely disappeared around the world, and I was reminded that it is no longer meaningful to talk about China as a broad subject
I actually wanted to go packrafting in a nearby field, but unfortunately I couldn't make it because there was a packrafting event hosted by MRS the next day, attracting over 200 participants. After parting ways with Mr. Luo and the others, I decided to take a whirlwind trip to two World Heritage Sites (Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong), located about three hours by bullet train from the city, since I had come all the way to Sichuan Province
Unlike big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, the place was mostly filled with domestic tourists and English was hardly spoken. Traveling in such an environment, with a tight schedule and budget, was a constant source of suspense, and although I never wanted to, I got to experience the thrill of backpacking overseas for the first time in a long time (of course, the World Heritage sites in both places were spectacular)
A huge Shinkansen station heading to Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou, a World Heritage Site located deep in the mountains of Sichuan Province, offers fantastical, grand-scale scenery that cannot be experienced in Japan
There are many lakes with mysterious colors. By the way, in the distance you can see snowy mountains that make you want to climb them, but unfortunately it is not possible to climb them
Another World Heritage Site is the spectacular Huanglong Mountains, which are said to be one of the world's most famous karst formations, formed by the erosion of limestone layers by glaciers
Next time, we will finally bring you an interview with MRS Luo. Please look forward to it
To the second part
A story about a trip to Sichuan Province, China to start playing pack crafts [Part 2: Interview with MRS Founder]