The first day of the 2023 Taklimakan Rally saw Li Yifei take a tumble into the mud, her bike tumbling heavy and hard above her. Among 37 motorcyclists in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Li was one of only three female riders and an amateur making her debut in the Taklimakan Rally.

Li received her motorcycle license in 2019. A backpacking enthusiast, she used to trek up mountains and camp by rivers until a hiking injury to her ankle ligaments steered her towards motorcycling as a new means of exploration.

Professionally, Li excelled as a product manager at an IT company, where precision, discipline and timeliness were key. Off the clock, however, she craved the freedom and uncertainty found in nature and off-road rides. "Beyond the freedom, riding offers a sense of romanticism. The experience of balancing self-release with risk control is addictive," Li confessed.

A chance encounter with the "Off-Road Motorcycle Club" captivated Li, and without hesitation, she joined. In the ensuing years, she and her fellow riders traversed nearly all off-road routes around Beijing, yet always felt something was missing.

During a cross-country motorcycle rally in Hami, Xinjiang, Li encountered notable domestic riders like Zaker Yakp, Zhao Hongyi, and Zhang Min, who had competed in the Dakar and Taklimakan rallies. Inspired by their stories, she added "competing at Taklimakan" to her bucket list.

Intrigued by the prospect of a 15-day desert ride and meeting a new group of people, Li pursued a racing license, learned to read and create pacenotes, and trained in the deserts of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia during her free time.

At last, the 2023 Taklimakan Rally arrived, spanning the regions of Aksu, Kashgar and Hotan in southwest Xinjiang. Recognized as one of China's most challenging and longest top-level races, the Taklimakan Rally promised to test Li in ways she could hardly imagine.

The first day brought a daunting U-shaped ramp, rendered nearly impassable by heavy rain and hail. Li found her feet sinking and sliding in the thick mud. "I tried three times to lift the bike taller than me, but it fell on me in the end, and I couldn't move at all," Li recalled.

Help arrived in the form of navigator Tian Yu from the No. 178 auto group, who helped her right the bike. Over the ensuing kilometers, Li lost count of how many times she crashed, but each time she managed to rise and proceed.

When she finally crossed the finish line, Li was caked in so much mud that her race number was indistinguishable. Despite the ordeal, she felt calm, comforted by the sight of snow-capped mountains piercing through the stormy clouds. "It felt like it was just me and the mountains," she said.

The scenery was so captivating that Li accidentally rode several kilometers in the wrong direction before realizing her mistake and turning back.

On the third day, she was stranded in the Taklimakan Desert for over 10 hours, wrestling with her bike to keep it upright over tall sand walls, steep beams and soft basins. Li feared not the falls, but the exhaustive effort required to lift her bike.

Around 40 kilometers from the finish, she ran out of gas. "Worrying won't solve the problem. It's better to relax and shake off the bad mood," she said before lying down on the sand for a nap.

Thanks to effective communication and security measures, all stranded riders and drivers were accounted for. Despite several setbacks in the first half of the rally, Li's mantra was "just one more kilometer."

Li completed the race in 28th place among the 30 motorcyclists who successfully crossed the finish line and was awarded Best Female Racer. Regardless of how far she ultimately goes, any new wilderness her wheels traverse represents another thrilling journey into freedom and uncertainty. 

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