On 25 October 2026, in his native Mayang County in Hunan Province, Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Xue got on a modified motorcycle and set off along the Jinjiang River. In 32 minutes he covered 40,74 kilometers of open water without falling even once.
This is a new Guinness record in the category "longest distance on a modified motorcycle on open water." The previous result — 31,8 kilometers — was left behind.
Zhang Xue, founder of the company ZXMOTO, used the MX450 model. Engineers added a front ski for steering, pontoons, an enlarged fuel tank and full waterproofing. The rear wheel with blades pushed the water backward, creating thrust. The motorcycle accelerated on the shore and then glided across the surface.
The route included six laps, eight sections and seven turns. Rescue boats and medics stood by on the shore. Guinness World Records representative Xiong Wen checked the GPS data, timing and video, and then immediately confirmed the result on the spot.
For Zhang this is not just a run. Back in 2009, in 22, he tried four times to ride across water on a crudely modified motorcycle. The maximum was 20 meters, and each time he fell into the river. Seventeen years of persistence led to today's success.
"I had a firm belief that I would succeed. Even if I had failed, I would have kept going without hesitation. I really enjoy the process itself," Zhang said after the finish.
It was no accident that he set the record in his hometown. "The spirit of perseverance comes from this land," the entrepreneur explained. "I wanted to fulfill my dream here and show Mayang to the world."
After the run, Zhang rated his work 99 points out of 100. He left one point so as not to become conceited: safety has always been more important than speed.
What makes a person return year after year to the same seemingly crazy idea?
