Ash Dykes trekked 6,437 kilometres along the Yangtze, completing the 352‑day journey on August 12, 2019 after starting on August 26, 2018. He logged roughly 8 million steps, a figure that puts his feat into perspective for endurance athletes worldwide.
The expedition was the culmination of two years of preparation that began in late 2016. Dykes trained relentlessly on the Tibetan Plateau, acclimatised to altitudes above 5,000 metres, and mapped a route that would take him through Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and the Three Gorges before reaching Shanghai.
High‑altitude, sub‑zero temperatures and treacherous valleys defined the first half of the trek. He recorded close encounters with wolves, bears, and wild yaks, and the harsh climate forced him to camp in remote, bear‑country zones where every night was a test of resolve.
Support came from the very people he met along the way. Villagers opened their homes, shared meals, and in some cases walked alongside him for days, turning a solitary expedition into a cross‑regional community effort.
The Yangtze’s history is as vast as its length, and Dykes crossed sites that date back thousands of years, underscoring the river’s role in Chinese civilisation. His path from the roof of the world to the East China Sea illustrates a landscape that shifts from stark mountains to dense urban sprawl.
Guinness World Records now lists Dykes as the first person to walk the entire Yangtze, a record that stands until a future explorer can match the 6,437‑km march. The achievement has set a new benchmark for long‑distance adventurers and highlighted the river’s enduring allure.