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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 06, 2004

China-Japan adventurers conquer world 2nd largest desert on foot

An adventure squad composed by Chinese and Japanese adventurers reached their destination Ruoqiang County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on April 5. The team went through Taklimakan Desert along the 39 degree of northern latitude.


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Desert conquerors
An adventure squad composed by Chinese and Japanese adventurers reached their destination Ruoqiang County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on April 5. The team went through Taklimakan Desert along the 39 degree of northern latitude.

The squad set off on January 23, 2004, from east 80 kilometers to Maigaiti County of Xinjiang, conquered Taklimakan Desert from west to east by walking or riding camels. The journey, totally 846 kilometers long and a circular distance of approximately 1, 500 kilometers, lasted 73 days. Supply totaled four times including two major ones set around Hetian River and central Taklimakan region.

The 29-person team is composed of 14 Japanese: 11 elderly and three NHK reporters, aged from 54 to 78. There are five Chinese and ten men help with the camels. With no guider, the adventurers determined the direction with GPS (Global Positioning System) and contact outside with satellite telephones.

Three elder Japanese withdrew temporally in Daliyaboyi of Hetian region and Tazhong region due to illness and businesses, so did the NHK reporters and two Chinese according to the plan.

The adventure is jointly organized by Xinjiang International Tours Co., Ltd of China CYTS Tours Holding Co., Ltd. and All-Japan Adventure Association. As learned the adventure is the the most difficult of such kind and also an undertaking not yet realized by any other adventure team in the world. The success is a challenge by human beings against the limit of adverse natural environment and also a try in desert adventurous traveling.

Located in the center of Talimu Basin of Xinjiang Urgur Autonomous Region, Taklimakan Desert expands 1, 000 kilometers from east to west and 400 kilometers from north to south with an area of 337, 600 square kilometers, following only Sahara Desert in Africa. Taklimakan Desert in Uygar means accessible to entry but not exit, and the desert is also dubbed ��sea of death��. The 39 degree northern latitude crosses the center of Taklimakan Desert. Late in the 19th century, European explorers pioneered in adventures in the desert. In 1990s, Chinese, British and US explorers made it from the southern brink, which was easier than the tour this time.

By People's Daily Online


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