A woman in China has shocked the internet with her appearance after spending 14 days surviving alone in the freezing wilderness of Hunan Province.
According to World Journal, the “Qixing Mountain Survival Challenge,” held in Zhangjiajie, required 100 participants to live off the land with only a machete — no food, no shelter, and no modern tools. The competition, co-hosted by a local tourism company and outdoor survival clubs, promised a grand prize of 200,000 yuan (about USD 28,000) for the last person standing.
After two weeks in the wild, most contestants had withdrawn due to cold, hunger, or exhaustion. Out of 100 participants, only 25 remained, and Yang Chaoqin, a woman in her late 20s, was the only female survivor still competing.
Her transformation stunned netizens. Once radiant and healthy, Yang Chaoqin now appeared drastically thinner, her face hollow, hair matted, lips cracked, and clothes covered in dirt.
She has since been nicknamed “The Cold Beauty” online — a mix of admiration and concern for her resilience.
Speaking with Jiupai News after 16 days in the wild, Yang Chaoqin said she was physically exhausted but mentally determined.
“Today, when I washed my hands, they hurt so much from the cracks that I cried,” she said. “I’ll keep trying to find food and survive day by day, letting nature decide the rest.”
She described foraging for wild kiwi fruits, edible mushrooms, and even insects to stay alive.
“Mushrooms taste like meat,” she explained. “If I find something unfamiliar, I taste it carefully. If it’s not edible, I make myself throw up and rinse my mouth.”
Nighttime was the hardest — the mountain temperature dropped close to freezing, forcing her to build a makeshift bamboo-leaf hut for shelter.
Her body began to show the toll: extended menstrual bleeding, dehydration, and minor infections. Still, she refused to give up.
“I didn’t join for the money,” Yang said. “I joined to challenge myself — to prove that women can endure just as much as men in harsh conditions.”
Photos showing Yang Chaoqin’s shocking transformation spread rapidly across Chinese social media, earning her both admiration and sympathy.
- Her willpower is incredible. I’d probably cry for my mom after just one day.
- She looks ghostly thin but still so strong.
- Last year’s winner lost 31 kilograms to survive — how far will she go?
Her story has sparked discussions about mental endurance, gender strength, and the growing popularity of extreme survival shows in Asia.
Despite her frail state, Yang Chaoqin’s determination has turned her into an unexpected symbol of courage — proof that strength isn’t defined by gender, but by spirit.
Sources: World Journal,Jiupai News