Organized by Xingzhi Exploration and hosted by the Xuanzang Road initiative, the "Xuanzang Road 800 Li Desert Extreme Race" will start during the National Day period in the Mohuoyanqi Gobi of Guazhou, Gansu. Renowned professional trail runners, ultra-marathoners, and extreme off-road running enthusiasts from both China and abroad will venture deep into the extremely arid desert regions of northwest China, racing across deserts, Gobi landscapes, yardangs, and glaciers—traversing 80% of the uninhabited area to take on an ultimate physical and mental challenge.
Ruins of the Suoyang City
It is reported that this year’s "800 Li Desert Extreme Race" will begin as a test event, with the first official race to be grandly launched next year. So far, 11 professional trail runners and enthusiasts from both China and abroad have confirmed their participation. Among them, Russian female athlete Olya Korzh has taken part in numerous major domestic and international outdoor events and has earned many honors. Chinese athlete Yu Lei has won gold medals twice in the Hong Kong 100 km Ultra Trail and also completed the 168 km routes of Japan’s Mount Fuji circumnavigation (UTMF) and the Tour du Mont Blanc (UTMB) this year. Another Chinese athlete, Qu Lijie (also known as Coral), has just successfully conquered the Tor des Géants in Italy, becoming the first female “Giant” from mainland China.
They will then gather in Guazhou, Gansu on October 1st, and set off from the starting point at Suoyang City (Ta’er Temple) on October 3rd. Over seven days of roughing it in the wild, they will pass through landmarks such as Liugongcheng, the Xuanquan Posthouse ruins, Shibaocheng, and the Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves, traversing diverse terrains including small yardangs, canyons, rivers, Gobi, hills, saline-alkali land, sand dunes, glaciers, and high mountains, completing a 400-kilometer off-road challenge and striving for new achievements.