Man wins 100-person wilderness survival competition after spending 70 days eating rats

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A man in central China recently completed a demanding 70-day wilderness survival competition. He lived off the land, eating things like rats, insects, and wild plants to endure one of the country’s toughest outdoor challenges.

The 70-day Seven Stars Mountain Cup wilderness survival challenge wrapped up on September 22nd in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province. One hundred participants from across China began the competition with minimal supplies – just a knife and a bamboo pole – and were left to survive on their own without food, shelter, or any external assistance.

The popular online event was broadcast live on social media throughout China, attracting millions of viewers who watched as people constructed shelters, hunted for food, and gathered supplies to survive.

A local tourism company and several outdoor clubs put on a tough challenge that tested participants’ survival skills – specifically, building shelter, finding clean water, and gathering food. The conditions were extremely difficult, with nighttime temperatures dropping below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, frequent rain, and the presence of snakes and other wildlife.

Contestants who completed 30 days received ¥6,666, which is about $940. As the competition neared its end, only 10 people were left. They were each given 200 grams of salt and one stainless steel bowl, and they competed for the ¥100,000 grand prize – approximately $14,000.

Beekeeper wins China’s jungle battle royale

So, the final winner was this guy named Yang Dongdong, he’s 33. Turns out he’s a beekeeper *and* helps run a wedding planning business! He said all his survival know-how came from his grandpa, who taught him how to hunt and build traps when he was a kid. Pretty cool, huh?

Yang created a makeshift shelter using bamboo, vines, and dried grass. He made baskets for fishing and crabbing, and even tore his clothes to make rope. When food was scarce, he had to eat rats and insects to stay alive.

He explained that when food was hard to come by, he felt worried, but he prioritized getting enough protein and vitamins.

Yang lost over 33 pounds during the competition, but medical exams afterward showed he was still healthy. He survived by persevering through difficult conditions – including cold weather, heavy rain, and illness caused by eating unknown plants.

When they announced his victory, he was relaxing by the fireplace. Filled with emotion, he threw his arms up and exclaimed, “I did it!”

So, this event wasn’t just about pushing people to their limits, it was also a way to show off how amazing Zhangjiajie is. They really want to make it a go-to place for anyone who loves outdoor adventures, and I totally get why – it’s stunning! They’re hoping to put it on the map as a big destination for stuff like this, and as a gamer who loves exploring, I’m all for it.

I’ve noticed these huge survival competitions are popping up everywhere online, and it’s really cool! It feels like everyone’s obsessed with the idea of a real-life “battle royale” – you know, like the video game? Even creators like MrBeast have hinted at doing something similar, which would be absolutely insane!

It’s unclear if we’ll see more shows like this in the future, but right now, Yang Dongdong is China’s winner of the ultimate survival challenge.

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2025-10-06 18:19