Xinjiang landscape to test endurance as riders sample high life

The longest and most challenging equestrian event in China will take place from May to June in Zhaosu county, Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The China Super Equestrian TREC Endurance on Silk Road International, jointly organized by the China Ethnic Sports Association (CESA) and the Zhaosu county government, will involve a professional category for a distance of 500 kilometers over seven days, and an amateur race spanning 220 km over three days.

Cheng Zhaoyi, the initiator of the event and a top-10 ranked Chinese endurance rider, said that the race is the third ultra-long-distance endurance race of its type in the world, following the 1,000 km Mongol Derby in Mongolia and the 1,300 km equestrian marathon in Kazakhstan.

It is also the first event of its kind to be held in China, Cheng added.

The competition will mainly feature domestically bred horses from China, especially from Xinjiang, and will employ satellite navigation to enhance orientation.

Wang Shenzhan, a Beijing rider who finished runner-up in the 2022 Mongol Derby, said that this ultra-long-distance, multi-day event will present a severe test of both the horses' and riders' physical strength and endurance.

They will both need to work in close collaboration to overcome extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rain and snow, while also navigating challenging terrains including grassland, mountains, glaciers and deserts, she said.

Wang Xiang, secretary-general of the CESA, said that the Chinese people have long revered the qianlima, meaning the horse with exceptional ability that can run for 1000 li (500 km) a day.

The metaphor represents the highest praise in traditional Chinese culture for both horses and talented individuals.

The 500 km race distance aims to highlight and showcase the cultural spirit of perseverance and progress, deeply ingrained in Chinese heritage, he said.