Old Colwyn adventurer, Ash Dykes, has officially begun his latest mission in China.

The 27-year-old will be attempting his third world-record by becoming the first person to cover the length of the Yangtze River, the world’s longest river to flow through a single country.

Dykes has been in China for the past few months gearing up for Mission Yangtze which will see him cover 6,437km (4,000 miles) on foot over the next year.

Ash will face wildly varying climates throughout his year-long trek, from freezing cold sub-zero temperatures in the west to tropical environments in the east, whilst also encountering wildlife such as snakes, bears, wolves and Asian killer hornets.

The sheer length of the mission, with its isolation, difficult terrain, including treacherous v-shaped valleys and thick forests, variable climates and everyday dangers, makes this his most intense and challenging mission yet.

Dykes will experience first-hand the fast development of China as he moves from isolated rural communities to urban civilization, through isolated deep forests and jungles to exploration of some of China’s historic cities.

Part of his mission will see him provide communities with fresh drinking water and education on plastic pollution, and how to enjoy but protect the world we live in.

Ash will take care of his own plastic waste and, in partnership with Water to Go China, will distribute water filter bottles to children at key points along the expedition.

This latest expedition will be the most interactive trek ever, being broadcast through different mediums to more than 400 million people around the world.

Dykes is being supported by leading technological and corporate partners (Navarino) to enable followers to interact with him during his mission via social media and his blog and allowing people around the globe to be part of the action, as it happens.

The expedition is also being filmed by Mandarin Films, for a TV documentary series and weekly web video episodes will be distributed by some of the largest online and media channels across China and worldwide.

Dykes said he is excited to be able to share one of the greatest expeditions of the decade with the world and was hoping to inspire children and adults alike.

He is expecting to complete his journey by August next year.

You can follow Dykes' journey on social media - Twitter, Facebook or Instagram - or on his website www.ashdykes.com.