The 72-Hour Challenge on the Devil’s Highway, jointly hosted by Visual China and Vision X3, comes to a successful close

The 72-Hour Challenge on the Devil’s Highway, jointly hosted by Visual China and Vision X3, comes to a successful close

- Conquering the Duku Highway, Extreme Challenges Test True Quality

On August 24, the “72-Hour Challenge on the Devil’s Highway,” jointly organized by the Visual China 500px Photography Community and Geely Vision X3, was successfully accomplished after 72 hours of extreme challenges.

A team of 40 drivers in Geely Vision X3 vehicles embarked on a 72-hour, over 1,300-kilometer journey through towering mountains and rugged landscapes, navigating death-defying roads such as sheer cliffs and high-altitude permafrost, before finally reaching the endpoint of Dushanzi Mountain and completing the challenge.

The event kicked off on August 21 from Turpan, passing through Korla, Kuqa County, Bayinbuluke Grassland, and Kuytun. It covered various road conditions including highways, national roads, mountain roads, and urban ring roads. On the third day of the event, August 23, the real devil’s challenge began — crossing the Duku Highway. The challenge team drove the Vision X3 through deep mountain gorges flanked by rivers and cliffs, tackling one-third of the route’s sheer cliffs and one-fifth of its high-altitude permafrost sections. Overcoming countless obstacles, they pushed their limits on what is hailed as China’s most perilous yet breathtakingly beautiful “hero road.” This miraculous highway, encompassing every extreme road condition imaginable, bore witness to the outstanding performance and exceptional quality of the Vision X3.

Visual China 500px Photography Community

On the first day, the Vision X3 fleet set off from Turpan, commencing a 72-hour extreme challenge along the Turpan-Korla route. This area was once a sacred site along the Silk Road and a destined stop for warriors. They marveled at the vastness of Bosten Lake, sought lost civilizations amidst the yellow sands, and their ambitions remained undeterred by the blowing winds. Amidst the sand and scorching sun, the Vision X3 roamed freely, taking in the enchanting scenery and witnessing the mysterious wonders of the desert, all while marveling at the stunning beauty of the rugged landforms.

Visual China 500px Photography Community

Gliding past layers of peaks, the convoy stopped at the Kuqa Palace. The land of fruits captivated all who visited. With 52 hours into the challenge, following the Korla-Kuqa County route under an altitude of 2,048 meters and temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius, the team explored history together and traced the footsteps of civilization in the depths of the canyon. Ascending along the canyon, looking down, raindrops dotted the mountains, scattering across the landscape, making the lake surface appear even more emerald and pristine. There were also roaring rivers, mirror-like alpine lakes, surreal Gobi illusions, and vast green grasslands that refreshed the eyes, leaving all to marvel at the passage of time.

Visual China 500px Photography Community

The test drive team not only faced daunting road conditions such as steep, rugged mountain paths and twisting, winding canyons, but also experienced the unique phenomenon of “different weather within ten miles, all four seasons in one day.” Over 72 hours, they traversed the shifts of ice and fire across four seasons, conquered six types of road conditions, and witnessed the danger, wonder, and beauty of the Duku Highway. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and rolling majestic mountains, they watched herds of livestock graze and flowers bloom — such tranquility is the very essence of peaceful times.

After 72 hours of driving, immersed in the beauty of the landscape and overcoming numerous dangers, the Vision X3 bravely forged ahead. With its precise handling and excellent braking capabilities, the fleet sped along mountain switchbacks, weaving freely through the ranges, crossing four passes and five rivers, before the entire team triumphantly reached the end. The 72-Hour Challenge on the Devil’s Highway — the Vision X3’s Duku Highway Expedition — came to a perfect close, successfully conquering an adventure worthy of being called a miracle. It was not only a challenging road test fraught with difficulties, but also a visual feast that dazzled the eyes.