Ultra Gobi Turns 20: Iconic Desert Challenge Kicks Off in Dunhuang

The 20th edition of Ultra Gobi officially opened today in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, marking a major milestone for one of the world’s most distinctive endurance events. More than 5,000 participants from 115 teams gathered at the historic gateway to the Silk Road to embark on this year’s extraordinary desert challenge.
The opening ceremony featured a captivating Dunhuang dance performance, symbolizing the convergence of ancient Silk Road heritage and the legendary journey of Xuanzang. Each team took to the stage with energy and pride, embodying the event’s enduring themes of youthful passion, collective spirit, and social responsibility over the past two decades.

A highlight of the ceremony came when 19 veteran participants, representing the event’s long journey along the Xuanzang Trail, escorted the flags of the first through nineteenth editions into the venue. This symbolic moment honored Ultra Gobi’s 20-year legacy of endurance, camaraderie, and cultural exchange.

As teams made their entrance, their cheers and chants echoed through the Dunhuang night sky, breathing new life to the millennia-old Silk Road and setting an inspiring tone for the days ahead.

The Beijing Gobi Friends Public Welfare Foundation, formed by long-time volunteers and charity partners, once again embodied the race’s philanthropic ethos — “Public good requires personal action; a better future is built by our own hands.”
This year’s charity team captain, Kuang Hong, delivered a keynote address calling on all participants to:

In another solemn moment, the trophy from last year’s 121km EMBA Group champion was formally escorted into the venue by representatives of the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and received by Ultra Gobi Chairman Qu Xiangdong on behalf of the organizing committee, under the watchful gaze of thousands of participants.

Chairman Qu Xiangdong then delivered an opening speech titled “Shining Youth with Purpose, Embarking on a New Journey”, reaffirming Ultra Gobi’s social mission: “Ultra Gobi stands for sincere communication and shared cultural progress.”

He emphasized that the race represents not only a contemporary continuation of Silk Road heritage, but also a collective commitment to cultural exchange and social contribution.
With this declaration, the 20th Ultra Gobi officially commenced, ushering in another unforgettable chapter in this iconic desert adventure.