Zhang Xue, the founder of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, sets a new Guinness World Record in Mayang Miao autonomous county, Huaihua, Hunan province, on Oct 25, 2026. (ZHANG ZHUO/CHINA DAILY)

Zhang Xue, the founder of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, set a new Guinness World Record on Sunday in his hometown of Mayang Miao autonomous county, Huaihua, Central China's Hunan province.

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Riding a modified MX450 across open water for 40.74 kilometers, Zhang set a new record for the greatest distance traveled over open water by a modified motorcycle, surpassing the previous record of 31.8 km.

The challenge started at 11 am on a wide river course in Mayang. Rescue boats and medical teams were on standby throughout the ride, while Guinness World Records officials were present to verify GPS tracking, timing data, and audiovisual records, ensuring validity.

Zhang completed the route smoothly on his vehicle, which had been equipped with flotation and waterproofing modifications. Despite navigating high-risk turns and managing physical fatigue over the long-distance water crossing, he successfully crossed the finish line after six laps.

Xiong Wen, an official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, confirmed the record on site.

This achievement came 17 years after Zhang's first attempt at a water ride at the age of 22. Back then, limited by vehicle technology and design, all four attempts ended in the water, with his best distance reaching only 20 meters.

For this successful attempt, Zhang's team spent five months refining buoyancy structures, waterproof sealing, and power matching, conducting repeated water tests to resolve stability issues.

A day before the record attempt, Zhang was appointed as a tourism ambassador for Huaihua.

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Wei Zhaohui, Party secretary of the city, met with Zhang and his team on Saturday, praising his dedication to the motorcycle industry and inviting him to help promote Huaihua's tourism resources and local products.

Zhang expressed gratitude to the local authorities of his hometown for their support, adding that he will leverage his industry connections, deepen cooperation, and contribute to Huaihua's development.