As of November 7, the second season of the Zhangjiajie “Qixingshan Camel Cup” International Extreme Wilderness Survival Challenge has run for 30 full days. Of the 100 contestants who started, only 17 are still holding on, with 16 men and 1 woman.
This challenge, which began on October 8, is taking place deep in the untouched forests of Qixingshan, testing the limits of human willpower.
Armed with nothing but a machete, contestants must survive in the mountains without any outside supplies, battling hunger, cold, and loneliness. When organizers announced an extra 200,000 yuan prize, and when the only female contestant, nicknamed “Cold Beauty”, kept foraging calmly despite her cracked fingers, people realized: this is no longer just a competition, but a real display of human resilience.
Survival reality: from 100 people to 17
The challenge started with 100 contestants on October 8. Now, only 17 remain. That means a shocking elimination rate of 83%, and the competition is far from over.
Among the contestants were people with special backgrounds, retired special forces soldiers, medical students, single fathers, each with their own reasons for stepping into the wilderness.
The event has two stages: the semifinals and the finals. The semifinals continue until only 10 contestants remain. In the finals, the rules get even tougher: contestants must start from scratch in a new environment, and none of their semifinal supplies may be carried over.
The invisible killer: salt deficiency
In the wild, something even more dangerous than hunger or cold is the lack of salt.
Retired special forces soldier Wang Changfan quit after 29 days because of severe salt deficiency. He had lost 12.5 kg, and doctors warned that continuing could cause permanent kidney damage.
Humans need about 3–5 grams of sodium per day. Without salt, the body’s sodium reserves last only a few days.
Early signs include fatigue, dizziness, and loss of appetite. As sodium drops further, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, and even life-threatening hyponatremia can occur.
Medical student Lin Bei suffered leg swelling and extreme weakness around day 20 and diagnosed himself with severe salt deficiency. He then began eating purslane, crickets, and leeches. Within days, his symptoms eased, and he said he “felt alive again”.
The survivors: human strength in harsh conditions
Among the remaining 17, several contestants stand out for their impressive survival skills.
One example is “Brother Bee” Fu Minle, a father of two. He showed viewers his “underground food storage”: layers of kiwis, pears, dried ants, crickets, and other insects.
In the first 15 days, he couldn’t even start a fire. He shivered through the nights and survived by eating raw wild plants, yams, and even ants.
The only female contestant, “Cold Beauty,” has shown extraordinary toughness. This young woman from Yunnan became extremely thin after just 10 days. Lack of water and cold winds caused her fingers and lips to crack. She looked nothing like she did before the competition. Still, she calmly gathered wild fruits and vegetables, and skillfully cooked whatever she could find.
Controversy: what is the value of extreme challenges?
As the competition continues, debate has grown.
In response to online accusations that contestants might have buried food in advance, organizers said the entire competition area is kept secret, locations are assigned by random draw, and drones and ground teams monitor everything.
As for concerns about illegal tree cutting, the local forestry bureau confirmed that the event has legal permission to use dead trees for shelter building.
The harshness of the challenge has sparked heated discussion. Some praise it as a way for modern people to rediscover basic survival skills. Others criticize it as risking participants’ health and crossing ethical lines.
Survival lessons: emergency response wisdom in extreme environments
The event has taught an important survival lesson: How can ordinary people safely replenish salt in an emergency?
Experts recommend keeping oral rehydration salts (ORS) in emergency kits, as they effectively prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
If trapped in the wild during a disaster, safer natural options include:
- Edible wild greens like purslane or dandelion
- Some insects such as crickets and grasshoppers
- Avoid licking soil or rocks, which may contain heavy metals
Knowledge like this can be life-saving in a crisis.
One commenter said: “They’re not just chasing prize money, they’re fighting to surpass their own limits.” Perhaps we should reflect: The relationship between humans and nature is not about conquering, but about understanding, adapting, and coexisting.
For anyone thinking about joining future events, the organizers offer one final reminder: “If your goal is just to lose weight, we don’t recommend entering a professional wilderness survival challenge.” After all, this is not only a test of physical strength, but of wisdom, endurance, and survival skills.
