China's Taklamakan Desert has fascinated generations of explorers with its mountainous dunes, huge temperature changes and lack of water, but its full width has been crossed just once, in 1993.

Now a group of nine Chinese and British adventurers want to match that endeavor in a 10-week expedition in September. They plan to travel from west to east on foot for 1,000 kilometers across what has been called the "Desert of Death".

"We want this epic expedition to be seen as a gesture of teamsmanship between China and Great Britain," said team leader Rosie Stancer, 56, an explorer who has conquered the North Pole and South Pole. Two other British team members and six Chinese will travel with her.