Climbing has become a pretty big thing in Shanghai, with a growing number of gyms, a few in surprisingly spectacular locations, and plenty that welcome complete beginners and walk-ins.
Getting Started:
- Bouldering 抱石 (bàoshí): Short walls, usually around 4–5m, with thick mats underneath. No ropes or harness. The easiest way to just show up and try climbing; staff can normally give you a quick safety introduction.
- Top-rope climbing 顶绳攀岩 (dǐngshéng pānyán): Taller walls where you're attached to a rope running through an anchor above you. You'll need a belayer controlling the rope, or an instructor if you've never done it before.
- Auto-belay 自动保护器 (zìdòng bǎohù qì): Top-rope climbing without another person holding your rope. A device automatically takes up the rope and lowers you when you come off the wall. After a safety introduction, beginners can usually use these on their own.
- Lead climbing 先锋攀岩 (xiānfēng pānyán): For experienced climbers. You take the rope up with you and clip into protection points as you climb. Not something to try without proper training.
- Belaying 保护 (bǎohù): Managing the rope for another climber. If you've never learned how to belay, tell the gym — don't just have a go.
Most gyms rent climbing shoes 攀岩鞋 (pānyán xié), harnesses 安全带 (ānquán dài) and other equipment, so you generally don't need to buy anything before your first visit.
Infinite Climbing 无界攀岩
A beginner-friendly all-round climbing gym with both bouldering and taller rope walls. There are plenty of easier routes, making it a good place to try climbing for the first time, while more experienced climbers still have harder routes to work on. Kids can start from age three, and the gym offers classes for both children and adults.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope & lead
- Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
- Kids: From age 3
- Beginner classes: Yes
- Equipment rental: Shoes, harnesses & chalk available
- Day pass: 120rmb
- Area: Changning
roaring climbing gym 啸岩馆
A community-focused climbing gym near Hongkou Football Stadium, with bouldering, taller rope walls and four auto-belays, so you can also climb without a partner. There's a dedicated training zone for more serious climbers, and the gym organizes outdoor climbing trips. The whole climbing area is air-conditioned year-round. It can get kid-heavy, particularly during summer and after-school hours.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope & auto-belay
- Climbing area: Approx. 200sqm
- Bouldering: ~50 routes, V0–V5+
- Rope climbing: 5.7–5.12
- Route changes: Bouldering every 2 months/rope every 3 months
- Auto-belays: 4
- Kids: From age 3 with an adult
- Area: Hongkou
The Price: A day pass costs 138rmb. The ten-session card is priced at 750rmb, or you can opt for a monthly pass at 700rmb. Shoe and chalk bag rentals are available for 10rmb each, while safety belts are provided free of charge. Call ahead for gym times as there may be a class in session.
Rock Hour Climbing Gym (GATE M) 岩时攀岩（西岸梦中心店）
One of Shanghai's more unusual climbing experiences, Rock Hour is built inside three giant industrial silos at West Bund Dream Center, with climbing walls rising 16 meters inside the old structures. It's entirely focused on rope climbing — there's no bouldering here — and includes a dedicated speed-climbing wall with timing lights. The gym is air-conditioned in summer and has changing rooms, a stretching area, equipment shop and rest area.
Beginners are welcome, but there's a catch: most routes require a climbing partner, and first-timers without previous experience need to book a coach in advance. There is one silo with auto-belays for climbing solo.
- Climbing: Top rope, lead, auto-belay & speed
- Climbing area: Approx. 1,700sqm
- Wall height: Up to 16m
- Difficulty: 5.9–5.11+
- Rope climbing: 6 silos
- Auto-belay: Available in 1 silo
- Bouldering: No
- Equipment: Not included
- First-timers: Coach must be booked in advance
- Area: West Bund, Xuhui
Rock Hour also has dedicated bouldering gyms at Luyue Tiandi and Xintiandi, with another location at Prisma Xinjia Center combining bouldering and rope climbing in the works.
The Price: Day passes are 150rmb, with monthly and quarterly passes at 650rmb and 1,500rmb respectively. Equipment is not included with a day pass. First-time climbers without previous experience need to book a coach in advance.
Stonehaven Climbing Gym
A bright, spacious bouldering gym in Longhua with large windows and a riverside terrace. Stonehaven feels particularly well looked after, with changing rooms, a stretching and training area, a small workspace with power outlets, and thoughtful extras like free socks, tape, shoe deodorizer and hand cream. The terrace overlooking the river is a nice bonus for cooling down after a session.
The route-setting leans harder than at some gyms: even lower-grade routes can involve small holds and bigger moves, so complete beginners may find some V1–V2s challenging. More experienced boulderers have plenty to work with, and routes are changed regularly.
- Climbing: Bouldering only
- Difficulty: V1–V?
- Beginner-friendly: Somewhat — lower grades can be challenging
- Routes: Changed regularly
- Area: Longhua, Xuhui
- Metro: Directly connected to Longhua Hui from Line 11, Exit 2
Price: First-time single entry is 88rmb, while a full-day pass is 138rmb. More membership options are available at the gym.
BANANA+ Climbing Gym 香蕉攀岩
BANANA+ is a large bouldering-focused gym with three locations in Shanghai — The Lightbox, Yan'an Xi Lu and Jinhongqiao. The Lightbox location combines the original 500-square-meter Banana gym with the much larger 2,000-square-meter BANANA+ space, with one pass giving access to both. There's no rope climbing, but plenty of bouldering routes across different grades, plus a gym area, training walls, a stretching space, a shoe repair station, changing rooms, and an equipment shop.
The original space is softer and more beginner-friendly, while BANANA+ is for intermediate and advanced climbers, with routes going up to around V9. The facilities are clean and well-maintained, and small extras like free socks, drinking water, emergency supplies, and complimentary bananas are part of the experience. First-timers can also get guidance from coaches in the beginner area.
- Climbing: Bouldering only
- Total area: Approx. 2,500sqm (500sqm Banana + 2,000sqm BANANA+)
- Difficulty: Beginner to approx. V9
- Beginners: Dedicated beginner-friendly area & coaching available
Price: Single entry is around 120rmb, with shoe rental costing an additional 15rmb. Ten-session cards start at around 95rmb per visit, while monthly passes and other membership options are also available.
KL Climbing Park 克莱攀岩公园
The Facility: KL Climbing Park is an indoor climbing gym built inside the old grain silos of Libo 1987 Creative Park in Minhang. The 1,300-square-meter gym has around 1,200 square meters of climbing surface, with bouldering, top-rope, lead climbing and an international-standard speed wall. Climbing walls range from 8 to 34 meters, including beginner-friendly auto-belay routes and taller 16-, 20- and 34-meter walls for more experienced climbers. The space also has large changing rooms, a stretching area and a small work area. One interesting detail is the route grading system, which uses climbers' feedback to show a range of perceived difficulty rather than relying on a single fixed grade.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope, lead, auto-belay & speed
- Gym area: Approx. 1,300sqm
- Climbing surface: Approx. 1,200sqm
- Wall height: 8m, 16m, 20m & up to 34m
- Bouldering: 2 areas
- Auto-belays: 9
- Speed climbing: International-standard wall
- Routes: Reset monthly
- Beginners: Yes
- Day pass: Approx. 100rmb
- Equipment: Rental available separately
- Area: Libo 1987 Creative Park, Minhang
Price: Single entry is around 100rmb. Monday and Wednesday are half-price days, and discounted top-rope classes are also available. Equipment rental is available separately.
perky sports (Jing'an) 攀竞攀岩（静安馆）
Best for: Beginners, kids & regular training
A long-running climbing gym in Jing'an, PERKY SPORTS (formerly known as "Climbingism") offers both bouldering and rope climbing, with a focus on regular training and youth programs. The gym has a strong community feel, with kids' classes and team training taking place alongside everyday climbing sessions. It also hosts climbing events and amateur competitions from time to time.
The Jing'an location is relatively low-key from the outside. First-time visitors may need to look carefully for the entrance, but inside there is a spacious climbing area with both difficulty routes and bouldering walls. Coaches are around to help beginners get started, and the gym is a good option if you're looking to build climbing skills rather than just drop by once.
- Climbing: Bouldering & top rope
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Beginner classes: Yes
- Kids programs: Yes
- Community: Youth training, climbing events & amateur competitions
- Area: Jing'an
- Metro: Near Nanjing West Road Station (Line 2/12/13)
Price: Single entry starts from around 150rmb, with monthly passes at around 800rmb and annual passes at around 5,000rmb. Beginner courses are also available, including a four-class adult introduction course for 1,299rmb. Equipment rental and coaching options are available separately.
1778 Climbing
Best for: Beginner-friendly bouldering & steady progression
A spacious bouldering gym known for its clean setup, beginner-friendly atmosphere, and thoughtful safety standards.
The gym has a large bouldering area with a wide range of routes, from easier V0–V2 problems for beginners to more challenging climbs that require technique and problem-solving. Route setting is updated regularly, so returning climbers can usually find something new to work on. Beyond climbing, there are dedicated warm-up areas, training equipment, and spaces to relax between attempts.
The overall vibe is friendly and community-oriented, with staff often helping new climbers with basic techniques and safety. Whether you're learning your first moves or trying to break through a plateau, 1778 offers a comfortable place to keep coming back to.
- Climbing: Bouldering only
- Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
- Beginner-friendly: Yes, with safety introduction & guidance
- Facilities: Warm-up areas, training equipment, rest area
- Route setting: Updated regularly
- Equipment rental: Shoes available
- Area: Nanpu Bridge Metro Station, Line 4
Price: Day passes cost 130rmb, with ten-session and 20-session cards available for 1,050rmb and 1,900rmb. Monthly passes are 700rmb (35 days for female climbers). Rental climbing shoes cost around 10rmb, with free liquid chalk provided in the gym.
Benchmark 2.0
Best for: Well-designed bouldering & climbers looking to progress
Benchmark 2.0 is designed with a bright, open layout, large floor-to-ceiling windows and four-sided climbing walls. The space feels bigger than expected, with plenty of room for warming up, training and working through routes. On clear days, the windows offer views towards Shanghai's skyline.
While beginners are welcome, this probably isn't the easiest place for someone completely new to climbing. Compared with more beginner-focused gyms, Benchmark 2.0's routes tend to feel more technical and strength-oriented, making it a better fit for climbers with some experience (around V2 and above) who want to improve. Expect plenty of overhangs, tricky moves, and problems that require more than just pulling harder.
The gym also has thoughtful facilities including thick mats, training areas, a kilter board, showers, shoe testing, shoe deodorizer, and free socks. Staff is attentive with first-timers, checking their climbing experience and making sure beginners understand basic safety before getting started.
- Climbing: Bouldering only
- Climbing walls: Four bouldering areas
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly but better suited to V2+ climbers
- Facilities: Training area, Kilter board, showers, rental shoes, shoe testing
- Beginner classes: Yes
- Equipment rental: Shoes available
- Area: Near Shanghai Railway Station / Jing'an
Price: First-time visitors can get a 199rmb package including a 30-minute introduction class. Regular entry is 130rmb on weekdays and 150rmb on weekends and holidays. Ten-session cards cost 1,000rmb, with monthly, quarterly, and annual passes available at 700rmb, 1,600rmb and 4,500rmb respectively.
AOB (Academy of Bouldering)
Best for: Fun routes, friendly vibes & everyday bouldering
A popular bouldering gym in Hongkou known for its huge variety of routes, welcoming atmosphere and strong climbing community. Located just a short walk from International Cruise Terminal Metro Station, AOB is easy to reach and has become a regular hangout spot for many local climbers.
The gym may not be the biggest space in Shanghai, but it makes good use of every wall, with plenty of routes covering different styles and movement patterns. Rather than focusing on pure difficulty, AOB's route setting is known for being creative, approachable and fun to work through. There are plenty of beginner-friendly problems, while intermediate climbers can still find interesting challenges, including dynamic moves, coordination problems and technical sections.
AOB also stands out for its community atmosphere. Staff are friendly and helpful, especially when guiding first-time visitors, and climbers tend to be relaxed and social. The gym provides warm-up areas, a Kilter Board, and small phone stands for recording attempts.
AOB has also opened a newer, larger location near Jiangwan Stadium, featuring a bigger climbing area, Kilter Board, and additional training space.
- Climbing: Bouldering only
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
- Beginner-friendly: Yes
- Facilities: Kilter Board, warm-up area, changing rooms, phone stands
- Route style: Creative, movement-focused, beginner-friendly
- Equipment rental: Shoes available
- Area: Hongkou (original location) / Yangpu (new location)
Price: Weekday entry is 120rmb, while weekends and holidays are 140rmb. Ten-session cards cost 860rmb, with monthly, quarterly, and annual passes available at 720rmb, 1,860rmb and 4,300rmb respectively. Shoe rental is 10rmb per visit.
Acme Climbing (189 Plaza) 尽峰攀岩（189弄购物中心）
Best for: Spacious climbing & climbers looking to level up
Acme Climbing has both indoor bouldering areas and outdoor rope climbing space, making it one of the more versatile climbing gyms in Shanghai. Located inside 189 Plaza near Changshou Road Metro Station, the gym covers around 700sqm with separate A and B climbing areas, plus outdoor walls and training facilities.
The indoor space offers plenty of bouldering routes across different grades, with easier problems in the A area and more challenging climbs in the B area. Compared with more beginner-focused gyms, Acme's routes tend to feel more technical and demanding, with some problems requiring more strength, coordination, and body positioning. For climbers looking to improve their skills, the route setting provides plenty to work on.
Beyond bouldering, Acme also has outdoor rope climbing areas, including higher walls and a few auto-belay routes. Most outdoor routes require a climbing partner and proper belaying skills, so beginners should check with staff before trying them. The gym also has a Kilter Board, training areas, and a spacious layout that makes it comfortable to spend a few hours climbing.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope & lead climbing
- Climbing area: Approx. 700sqm
- Indoor: Two bouldering areas (A & B zones)
- Outdoor: Rope climbing walls
- Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
- Training facilities: Kilter Board
- Equipment rental: Available
- Area: Putuo, Changshou Road
Price: A 10-session card costs 900rmb, while a 20-session card is 1,600rmb and annual passes are available for 4,500rmb. Limited-time trial offers are sometimes available, including 60rmb trial sessions and 128rmb single-day passes.
GOAT 2.0
Best for: A premium all-round climbing experience
GOAT is one of Shanghai's more polished climbing gyms, combining bouldering and rope climbing in a large, well-designed space. The brand has two locations in Shanghai, with GOAT 2.0 located inside TPY Center in Xujiahui, one of the city's most convenient climbing spots, with direct metro access and no need to worry about bad weather.
The gym has a spacious layout with high ceilings, large climbing areas, and plenty of facilities beyond the walls, including changing rooms, training equipment, lockers, showers, climbing gear, and a relaxation/work area. Shoes, harnesses and liquid chalk are provided free of charge, making it especially convenient for first-time visitors. The space is also pet-friendly.
GOAT uses its own grading system (G1, G2, G3 and upwards), roughly comparable to V grades but not directly equivalent. The bouldering routes are designed for a wide range of abilities, with plenty of beginner-friendly problems while still offering more challenging climbs. Compared with gyms that focus heavily on dynamic movement, GOAT's routes often include more technical footwork and smaller holds.
The rope climbing area includes top-rope and belay routes, with a good selection of beginner and intermediate climbs. Staff is helpful with safety introductions, beginner guidance, and climbing technique.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope & lead climbing
- Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
- Grading system: G grades (GOAT's own system)
- Facilities: Training area, changing rooms, showers, lockers, work area
- Equipment rental: Shoes, harnesses, liquid chalk & socks available
- Pet-friendly: Yes
- Locations: Xujiahui (GOAT 2.0) / Putuo (GOAT 1.0)
Price: GOAT is one of the more expensive climbing gyms in Shanghai. Single visits cost 160rmb, with three-session packages at 399rmb and ten-session cards at 1,200rmb. Monthly passes are 688rmb, quarterly passes are 2,188rmb, and half-year passes are 3,650rmb. Female climbers can get an extra five days added to certain passes.
Climbing Factory 攀岩工厂
Best for: Serious rope climbing & long routes before it moves
One of Shanghai's largest and most dedicated climbing gyms, Climbing Factory is a little different from the city's newer, polished climbing spaces. Located inside an industrial park in Baoshan, the gym feels more like an actual climbing workshop than a lifestyle fitness space, spacious, straightforward and focused almost entirely on climbing.
The biggest draw here is the rope climbing. With tall walls reaching around 17 meters, plenty of top-rope routes and lead climbing options, Climbing Factory offers something that is increasingly rare in central Shanghai: enough height and route length to properly train endurance and technique. The route grades cover a wide range, from beginner-friendly climbs to more challenging 5.12-level routes, and experienced climbers often come here specifically to work on longer problems.
The gym also has a sizeable bouldering area, although the overall focus is clearly on rope climbing. Routes are generally more demanding than in beginner-oriented gyms, with a stronger emphasis on technique, strength, and endurance. Staff are helpful and can assist beginners with safety guidance, and coaches are available for belaying if you arrive without a partner.
The trade-off is that this is not a polished "hangout" climbing gym. The space is a working industrial environment, with limited decoration, no auto-belays, and a more basic setup. Summer can be very hot, especially on the higher sections of the walls, and the gym can get noisy due to nearby factory operations. The old-school atmosphere is part of the charm for regular climbers, but first-timers looking for a comfortable experience may find it a bit rough around the edges.
Important update: Climbing Factory's current lease is expected to end in late October 2026 due to redevelopment plans in the area after the arrival of Metro Line 18. The owner has said the gym will relocate and continue operating, but for now, it's worth visiting while the current space is still open.
- Climbing: Bouldering, top rope & lead climbing
- Wall height: Up to approx. 17m
- Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
- Auto-belay: No
- Best for: Rope climbing, endurance training, experienced climbers
- Facilities: Stretching area, training area, equipment rental
- Equipment rental: Shoes, harnesses, chalk bags, ropes and belay devices available
- Area: Baoshan
Price: Weekday single entry is 120rmb, while weekends and holidays are 140rmb. Ten-session cards cost 950rmb, monthly passes are 800rmb and annual passes are 4,800rmb. Equipment rental is 10rmb per item (shoes, harness, chalk bag, rope, and belay device). Private coaching is around 400–500rmb per 1.5 hours.
