On February 16, 2017, the 13th ISPO Beijing (ISPO BEIJING 2017), Asia’s premier trade fair for sports equipment and fashion, kicked off in Beijing. The global leader in outdoor fabric technologyGORE-TEX?showcased its brand, highlightingGORE-TEX?SHAKEDRY?product technologies as well as 40 years of Gore’s innovations and achievements in outdoor science and technology. During the event, the "Give Credit Where It’s Due — Reaching Africa’s Summit: Dou Xiao’s Kilimanjaro Climbing Sharing Session" took place. GORE spokesperson and actor Dou Xiao made a surprise appearance to share the story of his exciting African expedition.

The sharing session began with an opening video that fully illustrated the GORE-TEX® brand's "serious" philosophy over the past 40 years. Gore has always been committed to producing the most professional outdoor fabrics, providing customers with the most comfortable wearing experience through high-quality materials. The company stays committed to moving forward with dedication, continuously breaking through technological barriers, and in 2017 introducedGORE-TEX?SHAKEDRY?a product technology that is one of the results of this commitment. Gore also remains dedicated to carefully shaping its brand image by collaborating and exchanging ideas with outdoor teams, making significant contributions to China’s outdoor sports industry and supporting more people in achieving their outdoor dreams.

Dou Xiao approaches every role he plays in his work with seriousness, and faces every climbing challenge in life with equal dedication. This attitude of "moving forward seriously" aligns perfectly with the business philosophy of the Gore company. Last year, as the GORE-TEX® brand ambassador, Dou Xiao successfully completed the latest challenge in his "Climbing Without Limits" series — reaching the summit of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

"Since signing with the GORE-TEX® brand, I’ve felt like I have a warm and reliable partner when engaging in outdoor activities. That feeling is really cool!" said Dou Xiao, dressed in GORE-TEX®SHAKEDRY?technical outdoor apparel, looking especially spirited and confident in his tall frame.

Dou Xiao explained that before setting off, he carefully checked his gear: "To avoid hypothermia, climbers must be fully equipped. Down jackets, softshell pants, GORE-TEX®-lined jackets, heavy-duty hiking boots with GORE-TEX®, gaiters, warm gloves, and warm hats — none of these can be missing."

In addition to the most reliable gear, Dou Xiao had the most dependable teammates. "This is Brother Sun Bin, the principal of the China Mountaineering School and the leader of my Kilimanjaro trip." Dou Xiao’s climbing coach and the principal of the China Mountaineering School, Sun Bin, also joined him on stage. Dou Xiao said, "To me, Sun Bin is more than just an older brother — he’s more like a general. He has the commanding presence of a military officer. Throughout the climb, he controlled the pace, and he bore all the pressure himself."

As images flashed across the screen, Dou Xiao and Sun Bin seemed to be transported back to the moment when they worked together to push toward the summit. "During the final 100 meters to the top, I felt I could no longer go on. My blood oxygen level is lower than that of an average person — theirs is between 85 and 90, while mine is 75. That means that when others take one breath during the climb, I have to take one and a half. By the last 100 meters, my hands and feet were already freezing. Our team leader, Brother Sun Bin, asked me whether I wanted to go up or down — the choice was mine." Dou Xiao recalled the scene, saying, "I thought, I’ve come this far, I absolutely can’t leave with any regrets. And then… I finally made it to the top."

After the video ended, Dou Xiao, as the protagonist of the climb, shared deep reflections. "Being a responsible climber means not only protecting yourself and others, but also maintaining a serious attitude toward climbing." He also revealed his new climbing plans: "In the new year, with the support of Brother Sun and GORE-TEX® fabric, I will continue my climbing challenges, just as I have with this ongoing series — 'Climbing Without Limits.'"

While Dou Xiao was sharing his Kilimanjaro climbing story, many online followers were showing their support by giving “credit” to Dou Xiao and the GORE-TEX® brand for their "serious" approach. The "Give Credit" campaign had already begun before the sharing session started. Dou Xiao also invited guests at the event to scan the QR code on screen to give “credit” for “seriousness” and support the dream of climbing. A live broadcast on Tmall was also happening simultaneously, allowing those who missed the live session to watch the replay on Tmall. They could also visit the "GORE-TEX® | TMALL Outdoor Alliance" to view the video recap. The atmosphere of the "Give Credit Where It’s Due — Reaching Africa’s Summit: Dou Xiao’s Kilimanjaro Climbing Sharing Session" truly reached its peak at this moment too!