People.com, Artux, Kizilsu Kirgiz (Xinjiang) Aug. 26th ,  reported by Wang Guangxia. This afternoon, ‘Zhongkun Cup’ Pamir Outdoor Challenge 2005 opened in Artux, Kizilsu Kirgiz, Xinjiang. The 4 days’ competition will be held on Pamir Plateau, from tomorrow to the 31st. Over 100 players from six universities, including China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing Normal University and 14 outdoor sports clubs have entered for this challenge which is of the largest scale in China. The challenge will take Ka Shi as the starting point, and is divided into four sections, including crossing the Gobi Desert, traveling in Auyitagh, long tour and climbing Mount Muztagh, the ‘Father of Glaciers’. With an elevation from 1300 meters to 4300 meters, the challenge sets nearly 10 items including cross- country race, mountain bike, mountain bike and race alternate, boating, mountaineering, sand skiing and cross-country skills, covering landforms such as Gobi, sand, forest, valleys, grassland, snow mountain, glacier and lakes. The challenge is a top competition in China, whether in the intensity and toughness, or in the high demands of the players’ physical fitness and skills.

‘Zhongkun Cup’ Pamir Outdoor Challenge 2005 is held by Chinese Mountaineering Association, Xinjiang Administration of Sports, Government of Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture,Administrative Office of Ka Shi, and Beijing Zhongkun Investment Group. This is the first national competition of outdoor sport since it is ranked as one of the formal sport events in China. Holding the challenge will play a part in promoting the tour resources in South Xinjiang, and in enriching the cultural life of the minorities. It is said that the cooperation between Chinese Mountaineering Association and Beijing Zhongkun Investment Group will last ten years, and the two will spare no efforts in forging ‘Zhongkun Cup’ Pamir Outdoor Challenge into a world famous outdoor challenge.