The quality of Taizhou Bird's outdoor products is undeniably top-notch, truly deserving of being called the pinnacle.
However, in recent years, the market has been disrupted by outdoor influencers and Taizhou Bird knockoffs, making it seem like Arc'teryx is some cheap brand, flooding the market everywhere.
In reality, their products are not something the average consumer can casually afford.
They cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands.
Arc'teryx users are divided into two types: regular users who buy products under the Anta Group's Arc'teryx line.
Arc'teryx, Descente, Wilson, Kolon... these high-end outdoor brands have all been acquired by the Anta Group.
However, Taizhou Bird is not part of the Anta Group's product line; it's a brand exclusively for specialized professions.
Taizhou Bird users are the elite of Arc'teryx enthusiasts.
Not only are the prices high, but ordinary consumers have no channels to purchase them.
In countries like the United States and Canada, you need a military ID, firefighter ID, or police ID to buy Taizhou Bird products, and you can only purchase items that match your body size.
Domestic enthusiasts who want to buy Taizhou Bird products first need to find a reliable proxy buyer, who then has to locate a soldier, firefighter, or police officer with a similar build to make an under-the-table purchase.
Alternatively, they might risk borrowing someone else's ID to make the purchase.
Only then can you buy a suitable Taizhou Bird product at a high price.
The pants Jiang Beicheng is wearing today are instantly recognizable to those familiar with the Arc'teryx brand as a Taizhou Bird style.
This is a must-have skill for Arc'teryx store clerks.
If there's any doubt that these 12,000-yuan Taizhou Bird pants are fake, one glance at the Scarpa urban outdoor lightweight hiking shoes on Jiang Beicheng's feet would confirm he's a top-tier outdoor enthusiast.
Jiang Beicheng personally prefers an outdoor tactical style, occasionally experimenting with American retro or Americana fashion.
He crafts himself into the image of a rugged tough guy.
Li Xingying, who has shopped at luxury stores, knows the typical behavior of store clerks, so she noticed the Arc'teryx clerk's sudden enthusiasm today, indicating that Jiang Beicheng's outfit is quite extraordinary.
She doesn't know much about the outdoor scene, but it's been trending in the past couple of years, with many travel bloggers and influencers jumping on the bandwagon.
With Little Boss Jiang as her guide, she also wants to try and learn more about outdoor activities.
"Sir, some water."
The clerk politely hands over a bottle of water and says, "Is there anything we can assist you with?"
Jiang Beicheng looks at Li Xingying. "I'm here to help her pick out a jacket."
"Of course, sir," the clerk says enthusiastically, inviting Li Xingying to browse. "May I ask if the lady needs a softshell or a hardshell?"
Li Xingying glances back at Jiang Beicheng.
She doesn't know the difference between softshell and hardshell.
The clerk, with high emotional intelligence, smiles and asks, "Is the lady going hiking? We can recommend products based on different practical scenarios."
Jiang Beicheng cuts in directly, "It's autumn in New Zealand right now, and the glaciers on Mount Cook are suitable for regular hiking. A hardshell jacket is more appropriate for that environment."
Upon hearing that they're going hiking in New Zealand, the clerk becomes even more convinced of her judgment.
This handsome guy is indeed a top-tier outdoor enthusiast.
She becomes even more enthusiastic, explaining the products and their suitable scenarios to Li Xingying in detail.
Li Xingying deeply feels the kind of service the upper class usually enjoys.
To be honest, it's very comfortable and highly tempting.
Who wouldn't want to enjoy this kind of service all the time?
"It's like it was tailor-made for you," the clerk compliments.
"What do you think?" Li Xingying tries on a gray hardshell jacket from the skiing series, checking herself in the mirror.
"Looks pretty good," Jiang Beicheng comments.
"Then this one it is."
Jiang Beicheng scans the QR code to pay, 8,900 yuan.
He then takes Li Xingying to the second floor to buy a pair of Salomon hiking shoes and a pair of Lululemon shark pants, spending another three thousand or so.
The middle-aged woman's three-piece set is complete.
"Do you need a backpack?" Jiang Beicheng asks.
"Are you going to get me trekking poles to complete the set too?" Li Xingying teases, sticking close to Jiang Beicheng with a smile.
"My friend's shop is just upstairs; you can check it out," Jiang Beicheng says. "I need to go up and hang out anyway."
Li Xingying follows Jiang Beicheng to an outdoor gear specialty store on the commercial pedestrian street.
The shop's vibe can be summed up in one word: "wild."
A middle-aged man sitting on a stool at the entrance, smoking, notices Jiang Beicheng out of the corner of his eye. He stands up with a smile and walks over. "Little Boss Jiang."
"A'zhuo, have my shoes arrived?" Jiang Beicheng hugs the shop's owner and introduces him to Li Xingying. "This is A'zhuo, the owner of Wild Outdoor Specialty Store, and also my personal guide.
He's also my lifesaver!
The first time I attempted to climb a 6,000-meter snow peak, while descending from Camp 3 to Camp 2 on Jinyin Mountain, I got caught in an avalanche.
A'zhuo risked his life and dug me out of the snow with all his strength."
Li Xingying's heart tightens as she listens—this sounds so dangerous.
"Saved your life, and you gave me a shop. I'm not complaining," A'zhuo says with a laugh.
Li Xingying, curious, asks Jiang Beicheng, "Is Wild a shop you opened?"
A'zhuo explains, "Little Boss Jiang invested to help me open it, and he didn't even ask for a share of the profits."
Li Xingying nods. No wonder Jiang Beicheng is surrounded by loyal friends—he never shortchanges anyone.
It's a true exchange of sincerity.
"Little Boss Jiang, here are your shoes." A'zhuo lights a cigarette for Jiang Beicheng and takes a shoebox from a staff member to hand to him.
Jiang Beicheng sits down to try on the shoes.
They're a pair of Crispi Monaco mountaineering shoes.
An Italian high-end outdoor brand.
In the eyes of seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, the quality of Crispi's hiking and mountaineering shoes is impeccable.
Just a bit expensive.
This pair of Monaco shoes, which Jiang Beicheng had A'zhuo source through a proxy, cost over four thousand.
"They fit." Jiang Beicheng puts them away and transfers the money to A'zhuo. "I'll send it via Alipay."
"Little Boss Jiang, saying that makes it sound like we're not brothers," A'zhuo refuses.
"Hahaha." Jiang Beicheng laughs and invites him, "Want to go hiking in New Zealand?"
"I might not have time. I'm heading to Mustagh Ata for training. Next year at this time, I have to complete the northern route climb of Everest," A'zhuo says.
Li Xingying, surprised, asks, "Brother Zhuo, you're going to climb Everest?"
Jiang Beicheng smiles and explains, "A'zhuo has already summited Everest from the southern route.
Now he's preparing to climb it from the northern route.
The southern route is in Nepal—just pay, and they'll take you.
But the northern route is different; it's in China, with limited slots each year, and you need to have climbed two 8,000-meter peaks within a year.
If it weren't for the psychological trauma from that avalanche on Jinyin Mountain, I'd probably be joining A'zhuo for training on Mustagh Ata this year."
Mustagh Ata, a 7,000-meter peak in the border region, is a stepping stone for climbing Everest.
Chinese Everest climbers often train on Mustagh Ata first.
Li Xingying's perspective is broadened once again. She hadn't even heard of many of these peaks, let alone considered climbing them.
And the man in front of her has already summited Everest.
She instantly feels her social circle has been elevated by several dimensions.
"Little Boss Jiang, you'd better not take those risks again," Li Xingying says with concern.
Jiang Beicheng smiles and turns to the shop. "Don't you need a backpack?
Go pick one out.
Mystery Ranch, Osprey, Gregory, Deuter… they've got them all. Pick whatever you like."
Li Xingying walks into the specialty store with a smile.
If she hadn't met Jiang Beicheng, she'd probably only know brands like Camel or Decathlon.
Her horizons are gradually expanding, and that's what excites her the most.