Yin Yunfeng, an alumnus of Renmin University of China (RUC), along with his team, successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters) on the morning of May 11, 2025, becoming the first climbers to summit during the 2025 spring climbing season. Their ascent also marked the first successful climb following the completion of a newly established route to the peak. 

Yin Yunfeng, a 2009 undergraduate from School of Marxism, RUC, a Communist Party member, military veteran, and former core member of the university’s mountaineering team, is now a National Class One mountaineer and a part-time filmmaker and sports influencer. His journey to Everest traces back to August 8, 2010, when an RUC Outdoor Enthusiasts association team summited Tibet’ 6,330-meter Tanglha Angqu Peak—the university’s second conquest of the mountain since 2005. For Yin, then a rookie team member, this was his first encounter with snow-capped peaks. 

“That climb not only introduced me to the majesty of mountains but also laid the foundation for my future challenges to higher, riskier peaks,” Yin recalled. “It quietly planted a seed in my heart to one day reach the roof of the world.”

Fifteen years later, Yin stood at the foot of Everest, ready to pursue this dream. After careful planning, he chose to ascend via the Nepalese South Col route. On April 14, Yin arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, and after two days of rest, flew to Lukla on April 17 for a week of high-altitude trekking acclimatization. By April 24, he reached Everest’s South Base Camp. Notably, he carried two Chinese flags: a smaller one was hung in the international tent at base camp, while the larger flag accompanied him to the summit, fluttering triumphantly atop Everest. 

After over ten days of acclimatization, Yin’s team began their final push from Base Camp (5,300 meters) at dawn on May 7. They reached Camp I (6,000 meters) by midday and camped overnight. On May 8, they advanced to Camp II (6,500 meters) for further adjustment. Battling fierce winds, they arrived at Camp III (7,200 meters) on the evening of May 9, and by midday on May 10, they reached Camp IV (7,950 meters). After a brief rest, the team commenced their summit bid at 8:30 PM. 

Oxygen deprivation, biting winds, echoing avalanches, and exhaustion tested their resolve, but they pressed on. After an arduous night, Yin and his team summited at 6:25 AM on May 11. 

From Childhood Wanderer to Everest Conqueror

Growing up near the Xishan hills of Taiyuan, Yin developed a love for climbing from a young age. “Back then, I only explored small hills,” he said. “My true connection with mountaineering began at RUC’s Ziyouren Association.” There, he honed skills in hiking, cycling, off-road running, and skiing, which became cornerstones of his career. 

Even after graduation, Yin maintained ties with the Ziyouren community. “RUC alumni, even decades later, continue supporting the association. The camaraderie remains pure and enduring,” he shared. 

During his undergraduate years, Yin enlisted in the military—a decision that profoundly shaped his mountaineering ethos. “The army taught me to excel at tasks I neither liked nor excelled in initially. This discipline became invaluable in mountaineering,” Yin reflected. 

He also credits RUC’s faculty for broadening his horizons, particularly Professor Qi Pengfei’s course, Contemporary China’s National Unity and Territorial Security Issues. “This class expanded my global perspective, deepened my concern for border issues, and directly inspired my decision to enlist. After returning from service, my thesis focused on related themes,” he noted. 

As the Chinese saying goes: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.” Yin lives by this adage. During university, he balanced academics with social practice, seeking to integrate knowledge with action. From 2010 to 2020, he traveled to over 120 cities across all 34 provincial-level regions of China, gaining profound insights into societal diversity. A decade into his career, he remains an avid reader, drawing wisdom from others’ experiences. 

“Reading and traveling are complementary for personal growth. I’ll carry this philosophy through life,” Yin said. “As the saying goes: ‘A true man should gaze upon the azure seas at dawn and the emerald mountains at dusk!’” 

Reflecting on future plans, Yin Yunfeng shared, “I aim to spend another decade traveling the world in my spare time. A worldview grounded in firsthand experiences is far more robust. In mountaineering, I may challenge the highest peaks of each continent. More importantly, I seek to balance work and life while striving for excellence—a new ascent in other dimensions of life.”