Chinese University offers tree-climbing classes!

The Xiamen University, a university in a coastal city in Fujian Province in southeastern China, has become the country's first tertiary institution to teach students how to climb trees, the Shanghai Daily reported.

The university, which has one of the greenest campuses in China, said it has started to look for the proper tree-climbing venue on an adjoining hill, and the class would train students to "move smoothly among the trees" as well as teach them survival skills.

"Many US universities have opened this selective class, which greatly inspired our headmaster during his US tour," Lin Jianhua, professor of the university's sports department, told Xiamen Economic Daily.

"We will ensure the students' safety with the assistance of equipments," he added.

The pioneering act has won praise among outdoor enthusiasts and some youngsters as the class is innovative and practical.

"It's great! Students can improve their physical quality as well as learn survival skills," a netizen said.

However, some protested it, blaming the university of just blindly imitating overseas counterparts and said the process would damage the environment.