260 teachers and students will hike through a 65-kilometer grassland canyon
Tsinghua University EMBA Challenge teachers and students advancing through the valley. Photo by Liang Shenghong, correspondent, and Cao Yong, reporter
Opening ceremony site
Tents at the campsite
Gansu Daily Online - Lanzhou Morning Post Zhangye Report (Reporter Cao Yong) At around 7:30 p.m. on June 24, the opening ceremony of the Tsinghua University EMBA "Knowledge China" – Nature Edition Zhangye Challenge, jointly organized by the EMBA Education Center of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, the Publicity Department of the Gansu Provincial Committee, and the People's Government of Zhangye City, was held in Wanfo Gorge, Kanglexiang, Sunan County. Over 260 students and teachers from the Tsinghua SEM EMBA program will complete a approximately 65-kilometer hiking challenge over the course of three days.
Prior to the opening ceremony, the Tsinghua SEM EMBA students and teachers participating in the hiking challenge had already set up their tents early at the valley campsite. Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the rows of tents dotted the mountainside, creating a uniquely charming scene. Around 7:30 p.m., the opening ceremony officially began, with class groups taking turns to raise their flags and shout their slogans, the echoing cheers reverberating through the valley.
According to Qian Yingyi, Dean of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, this "Knowledge China – Nature Edition" course is another major milestone for Tsinghua EMBA outdoor activities, following the “Tsinghua Centennial: Retracing the United University Journey” and the establishment of the “Tsinghua Outdoor Association.” In this special classroom where the sky and earth serve as the setting, hiking as the method, the body as the teaching tool, and self as the instructor, a unique spiritual dialogue will also take place—engaging with the ancients whose lives are immortalized in the historical tapestry of the Silk Road, discussing the meaning of life, the value of existence, and reflecting on the spirit required of contemporary entrepreneurs. Over the next two days, the participants will undertake a 65-kilometer trek, traverse altitudes of 2,800 meters, endure 72 hours of arduous journeying, and experience four unique types of landforms—a one-of-a-kind Tsinghua course. Additionally, during this course, the renowned Chinese historian and historical geographer Professor Ge Jianxiong has been specially invited to give a lecture to the participants. Meanwhile, the hikers also carry another mission and responsibility: to continue promoting the "Candlelight Project," a large-scale public welfare initiative launched during the earlier "Retracing the United University Journey." They will personally support teachers in mountainous regions, spreading the philanthropic spirit and positive energy of the Tsinghua EMBA community.
It is reported that the hiking route for this challenge is located within Kanglexiang, Sunan County. The challenge is scheduled to be completed over two and a half days, covering a total distance of about 65 kilometers. The route features a variety of stunning geographical landscapes including canyons, deserts, grasslands, river valleys, and the Zhangye Danxia landform. During the competition, the teams will pass through areas such as Kanglexiang Grassland and Daciyao Canyon. The participants are mainly senior executives from domestic and international large and medium-sized enterprises.