Extreme balance required in slackline contest

Extreme sports enthusiasts were drawn to the aerial ballet in Wulingyuan scenic area of Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, where participants raced on slacklines high in the sky between cliffs over the weekend.

Ten finalists, some dressed in the traditional ancient clothing of the Han ethnic group, competed in a show of extreme balance by walking along a 120-meter length of flat nylon webbing. It's similar to tightrope walking.

Shi Hailin, 31, won first prize with a crossing of 2 minutes and 21 seconds.

The scenic spot — which inspired the floating mountains in the popular science fiction movie Avatar — hosts a number of sports, including a mountain marathon and outdoor fitness activities in its unique landscape. It has been developing as a national sports tourism demonstration base since late last year.