First to the Outback, then back to Xinjiang

An expedition of 26 members from China, Australia, New Zealand and Japan has completed a thrilling journey across the rolling dunes of Simpson Desert.

It is the most difficult part of their adventure across the Australian Outback, the largest terrestrial wilderness on the planet after Antarctica.

The adventure is part of the Intercontinental Australia-China Desert Adventure, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Australia.

The first leg of the feat from Aug 26 to Sept 5 covered adventure in Australia Outback, while the second leg of the trip from Oct 11 to 20 will cover adventure in the highest desert in the world, the Kumkury Desert in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"I believe that the members will harvest friendships and display their teamwork when overcoming the difficulties on the adventure," says Bob Carr, Australia's minister of foreign affairs, at the reception in Sydney, before the start of the expedition.

"More importantly, they will set up a bridge for friendship between people of China and Australia."

The 3,200-kilometer journey across the Australian Outback is filled with danger as the members have to sleep in the open during the five days. Fortunately, the expedition did not encounter sand storms.

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