CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Chongqing native Wang Wandi achieved fourth place in the women’s category at the Flymaster Open in Macedonia, Europe in July 2024. Over the past four years, this post-90 Chongqing girl has transformed from a complete novice into a skilled pilot, following her passion and embracing a life of adventures without regrets.

Paragliding, an exhilarating aerial sport, traces its roots to France in the 1960s when skiing enthusiasts started experimenting with parachutes to glide, laying the foundation for modern paragliding.

Initially seen as a novel form of entertainment, paragliding has evolved into a globally popular outdoor activity, attracting a community of thrill-seekers and adventurers.

One of them is Wang Wandi, a Chongqing local who stumbled upon the sport in 2020 and has been hooked ever since. Now, much of her time is spent either "in the air" or hiking with her paraglider in tow, always seeking her next “path to the sky.”

Now widely known within the paragliding community under her online alias “Didi,” Wang has built a reputation for sharing her paragliding stories and experiences on short-video platforms, bringing the sport to a wider audience. Her stories and videos have earned her over a million followers and more than five million likes.

Didi has woven paragliding into the fabric of her life. She describes flying as her way of enjoying life, saying she can truly “live” in the sky. Each of her flights is accompanied by essentials like snacks and first aid kits as part of her routine.

"Brave souls are the first to enjoy the world," Didi says, which reflects her life philosophy. Determined not to live a routine life, she boldly decided to pursue her passion full-time. In June 2023, she left her stable job to become a full-time paragliding pilot.

“Take off!” she yells every time before she lifts off the ground. For Didi, this moment captures everything: freedom, boldness, and the thrill of soaring through the skies. At the Yunshang Stroll Paragliding Base in Yongchuan, Chongqing, she started her airborne journey once again.

Paragliding, powered only by wind and gravity, brings humans as close to flying as possible without mechanical assistance. To safely glide, pilots must be acutely aware of their environment, using instruments to monitor wind speed, direction, and air currents to determine if it is safe to fly.

Up in the sky, Didi captures her flight data, experiences, and routes using various electronic devices. She shares these insights with fellow enthusiasts on social media, creating a space for exchange and learning within the paragliding community.

Paragliding is both mysterious and challenging. Didi’s adventures span not only across China but internationally. With a paraglider and a few updrafts, she regularly covers hundreds of kilometers in a single flight. On a particularly good day, she might spend the entire day staying airborne, carried by nothing but the wind.

Paragliding comes with its share of risks. Didi reminds everyone that proper, professional training is essential for anyone wanting to fly independently. Beyond her regular training, Didi actively participates in paragliding competitions, honing her skills by flying alongside top athletes from all over the world.

Chongqing currently focuses on developing its low-altitude economy, with the first-ever Chongqing Low-Altitude Flight Competition Season taking place between July and August this year. Thousands of low-altitude flight events, including paragliding races, have been held throughout the city. As participation grows, paragliding is transforming from a niche hobby into a mainstream activity, with more and more people eager to experience the thrill of flight. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)