The ancient Silk Road of the Belt and Road Initiative stretched east to west, connecting all corners of the world and fostering cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Along this beautiful route lie boundless deserts where eagles soar, snow-capped mountains adorned with white lotuses, birds singing and dancers swaying, vast uninhabited lands, and the ever-present sound of camel bells... The Silk Road has been trodden by countless travelers, leaving behind countless stories...
Today, two special travelers are exploring the "Silk Road" in a unique way—they are two paraplegic patients who, due to work-related injuries or illness, have lost the use of their lower limbs and can no longer stand, relying solely on wheelchairs for mobility.
Shao Haipeng
Li Tao
Their interest in history, longing for life, passion for sports, and desire for paraplegic rehabilitation brought them together. They met at the nation’s border and planned to travel from west to east along the ancient Silk Road, taking in the breathtaking landscapes of their homeland and embarking on a unique journey tailored for paraplegic individuals.
Wearing exoskeletons – Photo
By wearing robotic exoskeleton rehabilitation devices, they traversed the scenic landscapes along the way in an incredible manner, demonstrating the resilient spirit of athletes with disabilities through unwavering determination.
Along the journey, they traveled day and night, enduring long hours of travel; facing wind and frost, overcoming various physical discomforts; starting from Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang on November 15 and concluding in Beijing on November 25, they spent 11 days walking through picturesque scenery while wearing the robots.
Passed by Artux Railway Station
Arrived at the western border gate of the Pamir Plateau – the Turgart Port
Walked through the thousand-year-old city of Kashgar Old Town
Admired the iconic Buddhist structure, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Experienced the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty at the Tang Paradise
Paid homage to the world cultural heritage site, the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Strolled through the Yizhuang Cultural Park in Beijing
Explored the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing
Enjoyed the sporting atmosphere at the Beijing Olympic Center
Paid tribute to the solemnity of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Stepped toward the Beijing World Park
The Belt and Road, where travelers have no boundaries. In their own words, a small challenge can inspire more disabled individuals to leave their wheelchairs and walk alongside them toward a better life, exploring the beautiful landscapes of their homeland.
Throughout their journey, they moved countless spectators and inspired the participation of many wheelchair users. At the Tang Paradise in Xi’an, the patients actively tried and experienced the technology.
Along the way, while wearing robotic exoskeletons, they astonishingly accumulated walking distances of 21.63 kilometers and 42.22 kilometers on the ninth day, surpassing the distances of a half marathon and a full marathon respectively—setting a new world record for paraplegic walking for the first time, sparking global discussion on paraplegic mobility, and bringing greater awareness and attention to the concept of technology-assisted rehabilitation for the disabled.