CCTV+: 2025 Taklimakan Rally wraps up with desert challenge

The X Power 2025 Taklimakan Rally wrapped up on 1 June 2025 in northwest China's Xinjiang, with a gruelling 13-Day Desert Challenge.

Kicking off on 20 May 2025, the event spanned the Aksu, Hetian, and Kashi prefectures, covering a total of 5,183km. This included 2,200km of timed special stages across deserts, Gobi plains, and river crossings. A total of 23 motorcycles and 105 vehicles participated, with 233 racers from 12 countries battling the heat and terrain.

Czech rider Martin Michek - competing for the first time - and China's Liu Yangui claimed overall victories in the motorcycle and car categories, respectively.

Since its inception in 2005, the Taklimakan Rally is widely regarded as China's most challenging cross-country rally, and in 2025, marked the debut of a New Energy Vehicle (NEV) category, where Yao Weiqiang of the Great Wall Tank Hi4 Team took the title.