Starting July 13, 2018, the “Beijing Auto · 3rd Asia-Pacific Business Schools Prairie Challenge” was held on the Huitengxile Grassland, known as the “Sky Garden.” The three-day event featured participants from MBA and EMBA programs of global premium business school alliances and top domestic business schools, attracting 600 business elites from 30 renowned universities in China and abroad.
It is reported that this edition of the Asia-Pacific Business Schools Prairie Challenge was jointly organized by the People’s Government of Ulanqab City and the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Business Schools Prairie Challenge. The event garnered significant media attention, with numerous major media outlets present to cover the competition in full. The challenge was supported logistically by the Beijing Auto off-road series’ latest model, the “All-Terrain Explorer” BJ40 PLUS, which delivered a brand-new “comfortable off-roading” experience, making mountain crossings feel like strolls in the park and adding even more fun to the prairie challenge.
The organizers aimed to use this event to build a platform for exchange and learning among students from prestigious business schools in China and abroad, foster mutual support and trust among participants, and promote the event’s philosophy of “ideals, practice, and responsibility,” thereby realizing self-worth and assuming social responsibility through the proactive spirit of business education. Participants were tasked with completing a 50-kilometer light-pack cross-country run across the prairie over two days, pushing their limits through the challenge while immersing themselves in Mongolian Yuan culture.
This edition of the “Asia-Pacific Business Schools Prairie Challenge” took place on the Huitengxile Grassland in Ulanqab City, the only region in China honored by the China Meteorological Society as the “Summer Capital of China’s Grasslands.” Known for its vast flower fields, beautiful environment, and unique terrain, it is hailed as the “Sky Garden” and is also one of the world’s three great alpine flower meadow grasslands. The area features volcanic grasslands formed by eruptions 30,000 years ago, along with forests, lakes, and volcanic ruins—colorful and spectacular landscapes. It is also the heartland of Mongolian Yuan culture; Genghis Khan’s third son, Ogedei Khan (the Yuan Dynasty’s second emperor), once mustered his troops here, and the historic assembly point still remains.
On the morning of July 14, all participants gathered at the Ogedei Square, eagerly awaiting the start of this grand competition and the journey ahead. After a solemn and grand opening ceremony, the athletes orderly entered the starting area. As they waited, everyone gathered enthusiastically to cheer each other on, creating an energized and lively atmosphere. At the sound of the starting gun, all contestants dashed off the starting line toward their goals.
In July, the Huitengxile Grassland offers blue skies, white clouds, and blooming flowers—a refreshing sight. A group of passionate business school students ran freely across the boundless green fields, waving their team flags, creating a striking scene. As the race progressed, differences among participants began to show—some started to tire, others were drenched in sweat—but their unchanging resolve kept them pushing forward, adjusting their pace, breaking their limits, and tapping into their greatest potential.
Along the course, the organizing committee set up supply stations offering unique prairie provisions. While resting midway, participants could sample local grassland cuisine and enjoy the stunning scenery along the route. That evening, the organizers hosted a distinctive bonfire party, where contestants sang and danced around the fire, leaving behind the day’s fatigue amid laughter, cheers, food, and drinks.
In the early hours of July 15, after breakfast, the participants entered the warm-up phase for the next stage. After a night’s rest, they were reinvigorated and full of energy. The race resumed at 5 a.m., before sunrise, with the crisp air of dawn still lingering as the athletes embarked on the final personal challenge.
In the final stage, contestants had to complete a 15-kilometer “glacial landform” cross-country run in the Huanghua Valley Scenic Area. This area is one of China’s rock climbing competition venues, featuring unique prehistoric landforms, deep valleys, and cascading springs, resembling a hidden paradise. Its distinctive terrain also made it the most challenging part of the race. Navigating the rugged, crisscrossed landscape, participants not only faced nature’s tests but also experienced the profound beauty of being one with the natural world.
The core area of the scenic zone also features a family-friendly orienteering track. Parents can bring their children for a 5-kilometer fun run across the flower-filled grasslands. With gentle terrain, lush grass, blooming flowers, and attractions such as Mongolian yurts, windmills, horse racing fields, and a miniature grassland train, families can enjoy a relaxing bonding experience amid the beautiful scenery.
Beyond the 50-kilometer prairie challenge, participants also experienced traditional Mongolian Yuan cultural activities such as archery, horseback riding, and wrestling. The unique cultural atmosphere brought joy to the contestants and added distinct depth and character to the event.
This was not just a competition, but also an in-depth journey into the heart of Mongolian Yuan culture and a comprehensive contest among future business leaders. The enthusiasm of these business students ignited across the grasslands, where tomorrow’s leaders and elite professionals demonstrated a spirit of striving and the defining ethos of our era against the vast backdrop of Inner Mongolia’s expansive prairies.