A 25-year-old Chinese woman has taken social media by storm, revealing that the most rewarding outcome of her 35-day wilderness survival contest was not the bronze medal or cash prize—but a staggering 14-kilogram weight loss.
Zhao Tiezhu, who has amassed over 38,000 followers on social platforms, spent 35 days surviving alone on an uninhabited island in Zhejiang Province, from October 1 to November 5. Though she claimed third place and a 7,500-yuan reward (approximately US$1,000), Zhao insists her physical transformation was the true triumph: her weight plummeted from 85kg to 71kg, thanks to a high-protein diet consisting of crabs, sea urchins, abalones—and 50 rats.
“Rats actually taste quite good,” Zhao shared. She would skin and roast the rodents, and even turned some into jerky to save for after the contest concluded. The journey, however, was fraught with hardships. She braved scorching 40-degree Celsius heat, endured rough conditions that left her hands battered, feet scarred by insect bites, and her body severely sunburned. A typhoon that hit the island ultimately prompted her to call it quits.
“I’ve already achieved my goals,” she explained. “Now all I want is to get a good night’s sleep in my own bed.”
According to the contest organizer, two male participants are still remaining on the island, vying for the top prize of 50,000 yuan (around US$7,000). Wilderness survival competitions have been growing in popularity across China; another high-profile event held at Seven Star Mountain in Zhangjiajie offers a 200,000-yuan reward (about US$28,000), drawing both eager participants and a large audience of live-stream viewers.
Despite the rising interest, event planners have issued a warning to the public, advising against attempting such challenges without professional logistical support and medical backup.
As for Zhao, she is already gearing up for her next survival adventure—with a clear target in sight. “I plan to lose another 15kg in the next contest,” she stated firmly.
