News
Théo Doré, the SKEMA student who crossed inland China under his own steam
Just weeks after winning the Ultra Xihong 168 Trail – a gruelling 168 km mountain race completed in 17 hours – Théo Doré, a student on the MSc International Business programme at SKEMA’s Suzhou campus, set off on an even more ambitious journey across China.
There is no doubt: Théo Doré is a student who doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Over the course of 29 days, he cycled 2,000 km, ran 260 km of trail, and climbed 37,000 metres of elevation across five Chinese provinces.
“I wanted to experience China differently – through its backroads, in contact with its people.”
Alone and unsupported, he ventured deep into remote regions of the Gobi Desert, skirting the edge of Mongolia, before tackling the high-altitude passes of Qinghai, climbing above 3,500 metres. He camped in the snow on the Tibetan plateau and eventually reached the lush valleys of Sichuan, ending his journey in Chengdu. “I wanted to discover a different China – its roads less travelled, its mountains, its harshness, and its people,” he explains. Throughout the expedition, Théo documented every step.
From shifting sands to tropical jungle
His journey began in the dust of the Gobi, between Yinchuan and Wuwei, where sandstorms and arid heat quickly replaced the romanticised images found in travel brochures. Within days, he faced mechanical strain, dehydration, and powerful headwinds.
What saw him through was the solidarity of those he met: shepherds, drivers, labourers – all offering water, food, or shelter. From there, he pushed on towards the mountains of Gansu, the steppes of Qinghai, and the windswept lands of Tibet. He bivouacked in the cold, crossed snow-covered passes, and descended icy slopes. At Maqu, he reached a peak at over 4,500 metres. Along the way, he encountered villagers, children, bikers – and even a team of professional trail runners, who, impressed by his approach, invited him to collaborate with a Chinese outdoor gear brand.
In search of the sublime
In Sichuan, the landscape softened. Mountains gave way to jungle, rice paddies and postcard-perfect valleys. Théo slowed his pace, trading speed for stillness, taking time to observe the horizon.
On day 29, he reached Chengdu. His bicycle worn by the miles, he stopped in the city’s main square, raised his frame above his head, and ended the journey as he had begun it: alone, grounded, and deeply transformed.
