From 2006 to 2015, the Silk Road Journey has spanned a full decade.Over the past ten years, the Silk Road Journeyhasforged countless business elites and also nurtured many “strong individuals in life” and outstanding “entrepreneurial role models.” Onthis1,300-year-old route where Master Xuanzang once hesitated, faced life-and-death challenges, and ultimately achieved greatness through perseverance and transcendence, they measured the land of the Gobi with indomitable steps,putting the teachings of Master Xuanzang“Ideals, Action, Perseverance”into practice with their unwavering spirit.On this arduous journey with an average altitude of 1,500 meters, where day and night temperatures vary by dozens of degrees, winds and sandstorms can reach force 12, and water is extremely scarce, they discovered a better version of themselves and achieved spiritual elevation through steadfast progress,harvesting the most powerful gifts of life.
Along this 112-kilometer-long road, they met like-minded friends and shared the proud common name—“Gobi Friends.”On September 12, 2015, the Champions Forum with the theme “Ideals, Action, Perseverance, Transcendence” will be held at the “10th Anniversary Celebration of the Silk Road Journey.” Ten representative Gobi Friends will take the stage at the “Gobi Talk” of the Champions Forum to deliver inspiring speeches, share heartfelt insights with fellow participants, and recount their remarkable life journeys. The officially announced list includes three-time Paralympic high jump champion Hou Bin, CEO of Yidao Yongche Zhou Hang, CEO of Jiku Power Chao Yang,and Zhang Haixia, founder of Magic Academy.
Hou BinLessons Beijing’s Successful Olympic Bid Offers EntrepreneursAt age nine, he lost his left leg in a traffic accident. After getting a prosthetic limb, he spread his indomitable spirit across the world. At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, he successfully cleared 1.92 meters to win the gold medal in the men’s high jump. At the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Paralympics, he claimed the high jump gold again, achieving a Paralympic “three-peat.” In 2008, he became the first International Paralympic Ambassador appointed by the International Paralympic Committee. He is the “Blade Runner” — Hou Bin.
From 2011 to 2014, Hou Bin participated in the Gobi Challenge of the Silk Road Journey MBA Tournament four times, completing one leg each year and finishing the entire 112-kilometer course over four years. In 2015, he returned to the Gobi to challenge himself once more. On September 12, on the stage of the “Gobi Talk” at the Silk Road Journey Champions Forum,
asBeijing’sambassador for the Winter Olympics bid,Hou Bin will share with fellow Gobi Friends the topic “Lessons Beijing’s Successful Olympic Bid Offers Entrepreneurs.”Zhou HangWhat entrepreneurs can learn from the successful bid to host the Olympics”.
Zhou HangWhy do I yearn for the universetowardthe cosmos
A decade ago, he built China’s largest audio empire; a decade later, he pioneered new possibilities in urban mobility. He is Zhou Hang, the president of Yidao Yongche, China’s first appointment-based car service platform. In 2006, he participated in the first Silk Road (Xuanzang) Gobi Challenge, and in 2011, he took part in the BC combined event of the sixth edition.
Over the past ten years, the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge has grown from nothing—from an initial group of dozens walking together to today’s mass run involving 2,000 participants. In this decade, Zhou Hang has transformed magnificently from the “Audio King” to an “Internet mogul.” Over these ten years, Zhou Hang and the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge have grown and progressed together, advancing hand-in-hand under the inspiration of the spirit of Xuanzang.
Zhou Hang said, “Each human life spans barely a hundred years, and humanity’s history of exploring and understanding the universe spans only a thousand. Yet, with our tiny bodies, we have already gained so much knowledge and explored so much of the cosmos. We should applaud and look forward to the potential of such a remarkable species. Though the future remains full of infinite unknowns, why not yearn for the universe—for a richer life?” On September 12th, at the “Gobi Talk” speaker’s podium of the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge Champions Forum, Zhou Hang will deliver an inspiring speech titled “Why Do I Yearn for the Universe” to fellow participants.
Chao Yang Is the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge a competition or a spiritual journey?
He is one of the pioneers of the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge; he led his corporate team on three expeditions to the Gobi. He is Chao Yang, CEO of JackoPower. Starting in 2005, as one of the pioneers of the “Silk Road (Xuanzang)” initiative, Chao Yang led numerous scholars and entrepreneurs in achieving three firsts for the “Silk Road (Xuanzang)”: the Silk Road Experience Journey, the first MBA Gobi Challenge, and the large-scale Silk Road cultural expedition. From 2013 to the present, he has led his corporate team back to the Gobi every year. Chao Yang says, “The Gobi has become a very important part of my life. I can no longer be without it. The spiritual journey of walking the Gobi and conversing with my inner self is a joyful experience for me.”
Over the past ten years, Chao Yang has walked the “Silk Road (Xuanzang)” in different roles, experiencing either the “competition” or the “spiritual journey.” At the 10th Anniversary Return Celebration of the “Silk Road (Xuanzang)” on September 12th, Chao Yang will take the stage at the Champions Forum “Gobi Talk” to deliver a keynote speech on the theme of “Is the Silk Road (Xuanzang) a ‘Competition’ or a ‘Spiritual Journey’?”
Zhang Haixia A Path Less Traveled
Before starting her own business, she was known as the “Grammar Queen” of GMAT at New Oriental and an “academic goddess” in the eyes of Peking University students. After launching her venture, she leveraged her strong expertise in finance, management, and technology to enter the online education industry, founding Magic Academy and winning the favor of many “angels.” She is Zhang Haixia, the founder ofa globally leadingonlineintelligent teaching platform—Magic Academy.
In 2015, Zhang Haixia participated in the third Entrepreneur Gobi Trek, completing a personal challenge and also winning the “Chuang 3 Whisperer Award.” This award was specially designed by the organizing committee for the top speechmaker at the Gobi Entrepreneurs Conference. About the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge, she said, “The Gobiis so tough—so why go there?Deep down, I firmly believe that if I can persevere in such a harsh environment, then I’ll find it even easier to persevere in life afterward. It’s a path less traveled, one that makes you realize step by step how precious it is to have ideals—and how joyful and fulfilling it is to act on them and stay committed.”” On September 12th, at the “Gobi Talk” of the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge Champions Forum, Zhang Haixia will share more of her life insights with fellow participants under the theme “A Path Less Traveled.”
It is reported that the “10th Anniversary Celebration of the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge” will grandly open on September 12th–13th for two days. Many well-known entrepreneurs who have completed the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge—including Wang Shi—will attend the awards ceremony. In addition to the Champions Forum,on the evening of September 12th,there will also bethe“10th Anniversary of the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Challenge – Awards Ceremony,which willreviewthe Gobi’sten-year journey and presentvarious awards. On September 13th, the entire day will be devoted to the Silk Road (Xuanzang) Charity Sports Meet, where entrepreneurs and participants will promote social philanthropy through sports and raise donations on-site for registered charity projects on the “Silk Road (Xuanzang) Charity Public Fundraising Platform.”
Ideals, action, perseverance, and transcendence—the "Silk Road of Xuanzang" has upheld this commitment for a decade, and will continue to unearth spiritual wealth along the "Silk Road of Xuanzang," gathering and releasing more energy to inspire more people to surpass themselves and realize their true potential.