A man from central China has won a 70-day wilderness challenge after surviving off rats, insects, and wild plants in one of the country’s most grueling outdoor competitions.
The Seven Stars Mountain Cup Extreme Wilderness Survival Challenge in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, ended on September 22 after 70 days and 69 nights. One hundred contestants from across China were dropped into the remote mountain region armed with only a knife and a bamboo pole, no food, no tents, and no outside help.
The viral event was livestreamed across mainland Chinese social media platforms, drawing millions of viewers as participants built shelters, hunted, and foraged to stay alive.
Organized by a local tourism company and outdoor clubs, the challenge tested competitors on shelter building, water purification, and food sourcing. Conditions were brutal. Temperatures plunged below 10 degrees Celsius at night, rain was frequent, and snakes and wild animals roamed freely.
Each contestant who lasted 30 days earned ¥6,666 (around $940). By the final stretch, just 10 remained, given 200 grams of salt and a single stainless steel bowl to fight for the ¥100,000 (roughly $14,000) grand prize.
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33-year-old Yang Dongdong was crowned the last survivor. A beekeeper and part-owner of a wedding planning business, Yang said his survival skills came from his grandfather, who taught him hunting and trap-making as a child.
Yang built his own shelter out of bamboo, vines, and dry grass. He crafted baskets to catch fish and crabs, and even fashioned ropes from his clothing. At one point, he resorted to eating rats and insects to survive.
“When food is scarce, anxiety sets in, but I had to make sure I got the right balance of protein and vitamins,” he said.
Yang reportedly lost more than 33lbs but remained in good health according to post-competition checkups. His survival was marked by persistence, enduring cold nights, heavy rain, and multiple bouts of sickness after eating unfamiliar plants.
When his win was announced, he was sitting by his fire. Overcome with emotion, he raised his arms and shouted: “I have made it through!”
Event organizers said the challenge not only tested human endurance but also promoted Zhangjiajie’s natural beauty as a potential global hub for outdoor adventure tourism.
The real-life survival event comes as large-scale competitions gain online traction, echoing the popularity of “IRL battle royale” concepts, something creators like MrBeast have teased in their own ambitious projects.
Whether this signals a new wave of live survival spectacles remains to be seen, but for now, Yang Dongdong stands as China’s real-life Survivor champion.
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