AFTER climbing Mount Qomolangma and a trip to the Antarctic, a bank employee in Shenzhen will set out today to try to conquer the Arctic, yesterday’s Daily Sunshine reported.

The only contestant on the Chinese mainland to participate in the international competition, Arctic Challenge, Zhang Liang, who works at the Shenzhen branch of the Agricultural Bank of China, will team up with two French nationals to try to finish a 592-kilometer trek in 20 days in temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees.

During the competition, Zhang and his teammates will each tow sleds carrying stores and equipment weighing up to 50 kilograms. “Eight to nine teams will take part in the competition and our team is only a medium-level one in terms of strength,” Zhang said.

As a sponsor of Zhang’s trip to the Arctic, the Shenzhen branch of the Agricultural Bank of China will pay up 400,000 yuan (US$56,338) to cover Zhang’s fees and other expenses.

Besides a sled, tent, sleeping bag and other daily necessities, Zhang will also take two personal items: an Olympic mascot Fuwa and pickled tuber. “I will take pictures with Fuwa at the North Pole,” Zhang said.

The competition will be held from mid-April to mid-May. Zhang said if they couldn’t finish the journey before May 10, the event organizer would arrange for them to be sent to the base camp by helicopter. “We will act according to our capabilities,” he said.

(SD News)