Qiemo County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China - May 22, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of rally cars running through desert
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Lu Binglong, driver, Zero Mileage Lubricant ZM Team (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3):
"It's extremely difficult. The biggest challenges are are the bumpy terrain along the route and poor visibility. You're driving on a road of water, mud, grass flats, and marshes, while overtaking one another in the desert."
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3. Rally cars running through desert
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4. Rally car running through desert
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fan Gaoxiang, driver, Zero Mileage Lubricant ZM Team (ending with shot 6):
"Four competitors crossed the finish line within about ten seconds of each other. It was a real thrill, and we truly enjoyed it."
6. Rally car running through sand dunes
7. Aerial shot of motorcycle rider in desert
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Abbas Jappar, motorcycle rider, Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Team (ending with shot 9):
"The hard ground along the route is rock solid, but the soft patches feel like running on cotton. I'm completely worn out."
9. Aerial shot of motorcycle rider in desert
10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zakel Yakup, motorcycle rider, Zhejiang Wuyi Apollo International Racing Team (partially overlaid with shot 11):
"I've competed in races both at home and abroad and even the Dakar Rally, but I've never experienced such a difficult stage."
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11. Aerial shot of desert
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12. Various of truck getting stuck in mud, being pulled out
13. Various of rally car, trucks running through desert, sand dunes

Drivers and riders have spoken of their relief after battling through the demanding desert terrain and overcoming scorching heat to complete one of the most grueling stages of the 2026 Taklimakan Rally in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday.

The 281-kilometer-long stage five of the rally took competitors through the sandy, dusty and rocky roads of Xinjiang's Qiemo County as the mighty race across the Taklimakan -- China's largest desert -- continues.

Bordered by the majestic Kunlun Mountains to the south and a seemingly endless sea of sand dunes to the north, the racing route incorporates some of the region's stunning scenery as it weaves through the desert and skirts along rivers, wetlands, and poplar forests.

While the landscape may look breathtaking from above, its a bumpy ride for the rally competitors on the ground, as they endure this punishing endurance test behind the wheel. They have to deal with shifting sands across the Gobi plains and rugged landforms created by wind erosion, testing their navigation skills and pushing their vehicle's reliability to the limit.

"It's extremely difficult. The biggest challenges are are the bumpy terrain along the route and poor visibility. You're driving on a road of water, mud, grass flats, and marshes, while overtaking one another in the desert," said Lu Binglong, a driver for the Zero Mileage Lubricant ZM Team.

Despite the huge distances covered during the stage, Lu's team-mate Fan Gaoxiang spoke of the adrenaline rush as a group of drivers ended up pushing each other all the way to the finish line.

"Four competitors crossed the finish line within about ten seconds of each other. It was a real thrill, and we truly enjoyed it," he said.

The route also posed daunting challenges for motorcycle riders as a single mistake could send their bike into a violent fishtail. Meanwhile, the event's truck category reported that multiple vehicles got stuck in the sand, with many needing to be towed free.

Abbas Jappar, a motorcycle rider from the Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel Team, explained how he was almost overcome by exhaustion, saying he must have stopped at least five times and ran out of water.

"The hard ground along the route is rock solid, but the soft patches feel like running on cotton. I'm completely worn out," he said.

Zakel Yakup, a rider from the Zhejiang Wuyi Apollo International Racing Team, compared the stage to one of the world's most toughest rally races.

"I've competed in races both at home and abroad and even the Dakar Rally, but I've never experienced such a difficult stage," he said.

The 2026 Taklimakan Rally, which began on May 16, spans about 7,500 kilometers across Xinjiang and will conclude in Aksu Prefecture on June 1.

This year, the rally has attracted a record number of 152 race vehicles, including 28 international racers from eight countries such as Argentina, Italy, and Spain as well as competition trucks from Russia.

First held in 2005, the rally has grown into a flagship long-distance off-road event in China and was officially included in the International Automobile Federation calendar in 2024.