The “Qixing Mountain Cup” Extreme Wilderness Survival Challenge in Zhangjiajie, China, concluded on September 22, with 33-year-old Yang Dongdong from Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua, Hunan Province emerging as champion. Demonstrating exceptional survival skills, mental toughness and adaptability, Yang beat more than 100 competitors to claim the title and a cash prize of 100,000 yuan (about RM65,000).
According to Xiaoxiang Morning News and Qianjiang Evening News, the gruelling contest lasted 70 days and 69 nights. “When food runs low, you start to feel anxious,” Yang admitted. During the challenge he frequently trapped mice, cleaned and smoked them over a fire to preserve them as a long-term protein source. Jokingly calling the rodents “Jerry,” he said nearly every meal included mouse meat: “Look, this is Jerry’s tail — it even swelled after cooking,” he laughed in a video released by the organisers.
He also wove bamboo fish traps to set in streams. While the first few days yielded little, eventually he caught a full basket of crabs, which he smoked for a steady supply of protein. His daily meals combined wild plants such as mile-a-minute vine, houttuynia and yam with crab and mouse meat to maintain nutrition.
Reflecting after the event, Yang said, “I’m very happy. If another contestant, Wang Dali, hadn’t withdrawn, I think I could have kept going for another month. I even set traps yesterday — if the competition hadn’t ended, I’d probably have meat again today.”
Born in 1992, Yang weighed about 73.5 kg before the contest. After the 70-day ordeal he had lost 15.5 kg, dropping to around 58 kg with a gaunt, bearded face — but medical checks showed his blood sugar, blood pressure and pulse all remained normal thanks to his careful nutrition.
The event required participants to source their own food and water in extreme conditions while enduring isolation and mental stress. Yang’s calm mindset and strong willpower saw him through to victory, bringing the 70-day survival challenge to a dramatic close.
