Five female explorers from China and the UK will form a Sino-British joint expedition team to hike 1,000 kilometers across China’s largest Taklamakan Desert in approximately 70 days. The activity aims to promote cultural exchange between China and the UK, advocate the spirit of exploration, exploration culture, and ecological protection concepts, while also expanding the influence of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
On June 12, at the first “Global Adventure Travel Forum” held in China, five female explorers from China and the UK held a press conference to announce the formation of a joint expedition team that will hike across China’s largest Taklamakan Desert in September 2018. This expedition is expected to take 70 days to trek entirely across the desert from west to east, covering a total distance of about 1,000 kilometers.
The “Sino-British Joint Hike Across the Taklamakan Desert” is an adventure tourism event jointly organized by the China Adventure Travel Association (CATA) and the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) of the UK. It aims to promote people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and the UK, advocate the spirit of exploration, exploration culture, and ecological protection concepts, while also expanding the influence of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
In the Uyghur language, “Taklamakan” means “once you step in, you will never come out,” hence the area is also known as the “Sea of Death.” The Sino-British joint expedition team will face a series of extremely challenging tests this time: massive sand dunes in the desert that reach up to 500 meters in height; extremely unpredictable temperatures ranging from 30 degrees during the day to minus 20 degrees at night (a temperature difference of 50 degrees Celsius); as well as extreme challenges of thirst, hunger, and exhaustion.
This event is also the first in human history to be led entirely by women on a journey through the Taklamakan Desert. Five female explorers from China and the UK will join forces for the first time to hike across China’s largest and the world’s second-largest desert. Through their unique growth and exploration experiences, they aim to showcase the distinctive charm and spirit of women, while also inspiring and empowering more women.
The expedition team leader is Dr. Rosie Stancer from the UK, a renowned explorer and polar adventurer who is the niece of Queen Elizabeth II and the cousin of Prince Charles. She has received multiple supports and recognitions from the British royal family for her exploration achievements. The deputy leader is Wang Qiuyang, Co-Chairman of today's Investment Group, a well-known philanthropist, and the first Chinese woman to complete the “7+2” challenge (climbing the highest peaks of the seven continents and trekking to the North and South Poles). She founded the “Apple Foundation,” which is currently the largest charitable foundation in China dedicated to Tibetan areas.
Other members of the expedition team include Sun Hong, Vice President of Golf Channel, and Cat Vinton, a renowned British travel photographer. Since 2003, Sun Hong has summited dozens of snow-capped mountains over 5,000 meters high around the world and successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest in May 2018. Cat Vinton has successfully completed five solo expeditions, with her works published multiple times in National Geographic, The Guardian, and other publications. The expedition’s chief advisor is Wang Yongfeng, Vice Chairman of the China Mountaineering Association and former leader of the Chinese Mountaineering Team.
“Hiking across the Taklamakan Desert not only tests human will, courage, and wisdom, but also requires mutual help, trust, and sincere cooperation among team members,” said Rosie Stancer, the expedition team leader.
Han Bo from the China Adventure Travel Association believes that, “Through the form of exploration culture, China can connect history with the present, and link different countries and peoples. This can enhance global understanding and attention towards the Belt and Road initiative. Strengthening the world’s understanding and attention to the Belt and Road, and building an open, supportive, and trust-based model for people-to-people and cultural exchange and cooperation.”