A man in China, Peng Yujiang, went out for what was supposed to be a simple gear test — just checking out some second-hand paragliding equipment over the Qilian Mountains in Gansu. Nothing too wild. But then out of nowhere, a crazy strong updraft — people call it “cloud suck” — pulled him into the sky way higher than anyone expected. He ended up being lifted to about 8,598 meters, which is seriously high. That’s almost as high as planes usually fly, and not far off from the peak of Mount Everest. I mean, imagine that — one minute you're cruising low, and the next you're literally freezing in the clouds at nearly 9,000 meters.
Inside the Cloud: Extreme Cold and Barely Any Oxygen
Once he got sucked into that storm cloud — a big, dangerous cumulonimbus one — things got rough. Temperatures dropped to minus 40°C, and the air was super thin. No oxygen gear, no special suit, nothing. Just him and his glider. He said he used his compass to figure out what was going on because he couldn’t really see much, and he stayed in touch with a friend on the ground using a radio. That probably helped him stay calm. The whole thing lasted over an hour, and he ended up landing about 30 kilometers from where he started. There’s even video footage from his helmet cam that shows him covered in ice, struggling to control the glider. That video blew up on Chinese social media.
Not Recognized as a Record — and Now He’s Suspended
Even though Peng almost matched a world record — the highest ever paragliding flight was 9,946 meters back in 2007 — his flight doesn’t count officially. Why? Because it wasn’t registered. And that’s a big deal in the paragliding world. Authorities said he broke some rules by flying without proper registration, so they’ve suspended him for six months. The same goes for his friend who posted the video online. So yeah, while it was impressive (and honestly, kind of terrifying), it still ended up with consequences.
This Was a Close Call — and a Warning for Others
This whole thing just shows how unpredictable paragliding can be, especially in the mountains. One minute everything's fine, and the next you’re freezing at Everest-level heights with barely any oxygen. Experts say situations like this are exactly why proper prep, gear checks, and following the rules matter so much. If Peng hadn’t stayed calm or didn’t have some experience under his belt, it could’ve ended way worse. It’s a lucky escape, but also kind of a wake-up call for other adventure seekers out there.
