這是宛如童話卻發生在現實世界的故事，一隻來自中國新疆戈壁灘的流浪小狗，因為偶然的相遇，從荒漠裡孤苦無依的小生命，成為感動全球、走進好萊塢的明星狗，甚至還要被拍成電影。它的故事被翻譯成17種語言出版，風靡全球，許多好萊塢巨星爭相與它合影，連英國女王也曾親自接見過這隻小狗，它就是「戈壁」（Gobi）。

一切始於2016年的夏天。當時在新疆舉行一場「戈壁長征」超級馬拉松賽事，這是世界四大極地超馬巡迴賽之一，參賽者必須在七天之內，於氣候惡劣的沙漠地帶跑完250公里。白天氣溫高達50℃，環境是乾涸的河床與無盡的沙土，堪稱對意志與體能的極致考驗。來自英國的超馬好手迪恩（Dion Leonard），曾多次奪下美國馬拉松冠軍，這次參賽滿懷信心。然而，他沒有想到，這場比賽將徹底改變他和一隻小狗的命運。

比賽第一天，迪恩在賽道上遇到一隻小流浪狗。原以為牠很快會離開，但小狗卻一路緊緊跟隨，無論是灼熱的沙地、狂風的平原，還是漫長的里程，牠始終不離不棄。這份堅持讓迪恩震撼不已。接下來的日子，小狗默默跟隨他的步伐，不吵不鬧，也不掉隊。迪恩心疼這小傢伙，把自己原本僅夠一週的珍貴口糧分給牠，分享肉乾與堅果。

真正的考驗出現在第三天。選手們必須涉過一條湍急的河流，水深甚至淹過迪恩的腰部。他費力過了河，卻聽見身後傳來小狗焦急的吠叫與哀鳴，那是無助的呼喊。迪恩意識到，若自己不回頭，小狗無法跨越這道障礙。眼前，他必須做出選擇：是繼續向前爭取比賽的勝利，還是放棄名次去幫助小狗？最終，他毅然轉身，把小狗抱在懷裡渡過河流。那一刻，他明白了這段旅程的真正意義——「贏不是最重要的，重要的是愛與陪伴。」

比賽最終，迪恩拿下第二名，但他心中最大的收穫，是這隻陪伴他跑完全程的小狗。他給牠取名「戈壁」（Gobi），象徵牠堅韌的生命力。因為英國領養小狗的程序繁瑣，需要4個月的時間，迪恩只能先回英國並將狗代人照顧，沒想到卻走失。於是迪恩緊急回到當地尋找，在17天後終於找到最終帶回英國。此後，戈壁不再是無名的流浪犬，而是成為迪恩家庭的一份子。他和妻子帶著戈壁走遍11個國家，登上過長城，踏上過雪山，甚至在埃菲爾鐵塔下留下足跡。每年聖誕節，夫婦倆都會為戈壁準備禮物，而在中國農曆新年，他們更會特別做一桌團圓飯與牠分享。

隨著故事被寫成書籍並翻譯成17種語言，戈壁迅速成為全球矚目的「明星狗」。牠上過電視、接受訪問、參加簽書會，還陪伴主人跑過更多馬拉松。世界各地的人們都被這份跨越物種的真摯情感打動，好萊塢明星紛紛爭相與牠合影，而最令人驚喜的是，英國女王也曾親自接見過這隻來自中國戈壁的奇蹟小狗。如今，關於戈壁的故事更計劃拍成電影，讓更多人透過銀幕見證這段感人至深的旅程。

戈壁的故事之所以能夠打動全球，不僅因為牠的忠誠與堅韌，更因為牠讓人們看見，在最荒涼的沙漠裡，依然可以開出最美的花——那就是愛、陪伴與希望。

This is a story that sounds like a fairy tale but happened in real life—a stray dog from China’s Gobi Desert who went from wandering alone in the wilderness to becoming a global sensation, winning the hearts of Hollywood, meeting the Queen of England, and soon to be the subject of a feature film. Its story has been written into a bestselling book, translated into 17 languages, and celebrated across the world. The dog’s name is Gobi.

It all began in the summer of 2016, during the “Gobi March” ultramarathon in Xinjiang, China—one of the four great desert ultramarathons in the world. Competitors were required to run 250 kilometers over seven days through harsh, unforgiving terrain. The daytime heat soared to 50°C, and the landscape was nothing but dry riverbeds and endless sand. Among the runners was Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathoner from the UK who had won multiple championships in the United States. Confident in his abilities, Dion had no idea this race would change his life forever.

On the very first day, Dion encountered a small stray dog on the course. He assumed it would soon wander away, but to his surprise, the little dog stuck by his side. No matter how grueling the environment—burning sand, strong desert winds, or the marathon’s punishing distance—the dog never left him. For Dion, it was astonishing. Over the next two days, the little dog faithfully matched his pace, quiet and determined, never falling behind. Moved by the dog’s loyalty, Dion began sharing his own precious rations—dried meat and nuts meant to last him the entire week.

The greatest test came on the third day. Runners had to cross a river, with water rising above Dion’s waist. He managed to struggle across, but from behind he heard desperate barks and whines—the dog was trapped on the other side, terrified and unable to continue. At that moment, Dion faced a difficult choice: push forward to chase victory, or turn back to help the little stray who had chosen him. In a decision that defined the rest of his journey, Dion turned around, lifted the dog in his arms, and carried it across. Later he would say, “That was the first lesson the Gobi Desert taught me—winning isn’t the most important thing.”

Dion went on to finish the race in second place, but the greatest prize was the bond he had forged. He named the dog “Gobi,” after the desert that brought them together. From then on, Gobi was no longer a stray, but part of Dion’s family. Together with his wife, Dion brought Gobi across 11 countries. The little dog has walked the Great Wall, seen snowcapped mountains, visited the Eiffel Tower, and run through countless breathtaking landscapes. Every Christmas, Dion and his wife prepare special gifts for Gobi; every Lunar New Year, they even set a reunion dinner just for him.

With the publication of their story, translated into 17 languages, Gobi quickly became a global sensation. The once-forgotten desert stray was now a celebrity—appearing on television, giving interviews, attending book signings, and even running in more marathons. Hollywood stars lined up to meet him, and in a moment few could have imagined, Gobi was personally received by the Queen of England. Today, his story is being adapted into a feature film, ensuring that even more people will come to know the incredible journey of a small dog who captured the world’s heart.

The story of Gobi resonates far beyond the ultramarathon. It is not only about loyalty and resilience, but also about the discovery of love and companionship in the most unlikely places. From the barren sands of Xinjiang bloomed a rare flower of hope and connection—proof that sometimes, the greatest victories in life are not about finishing first, but about choosing to care.