Teammates vent their emotions and demolish the "Monument" of the deceased mountain friends, while hikers illegally cross the Aotai Line and lose contact with one person. Team member | Mountain friend
Recently, outdoor enthusiasts reported that one member of an outdoor team lost contact while illegally crossing the Aotai Line. Another member, in order to vent their emotions, actually dismantled the Aotai Martyrs Memorial and posted it on their social media. This move has sparked controversy. On the morning of July 20th, Upstream News reporters learned from the Shaanxi Forest Police that they were not clear about the demolition of the "Monument", but they did receive relevant reports on the 19th. A Hunan hiker lost contact, and his family has contacted the rescue team. On the 20th, they will go up the mountain to search and rescue depending on the weather conditions.
Upstream news reporters saw on the 8264 forum that on the morning of the 19th, a netizen posted that they saw a Guangdong hiker posting on their social circle claiming that they had removed the Aotai Martyrs Memorial Monument located on the aircraft beam of the Aotai Line. "I heard it's a team of six, and one has not been found yet. The time of loss was two days ago. The family has already been notified." This post has also sparked the anger of many outdoor enthusiasts, saying that the act of demolishing the "monument" is "lacking in quality" and "unethical".
Upstream News reporters noticed that an informant stated that the missing hiker was a male in his 50s, from Hunan, who couldn't walk near the "Monument". The Guangdong hiker went to pick him up in the middle of the night but didn't receive him, and then the "Monument" was pulled out. "At that time, the parties involved were in trouble. No matter what emotions you have, you shouldn't use this to vent your anger." The informant politely declined the reporter's request for in-depth interviews, saying, "The matter of the outdoor travel circle should be left to the outdoor travel enthusiasts to solve on their own.".
Since its release in 2002, the Aotai Line has quickly become a popular destination among many hikers, regarded as one of the "Top 10 Ultimate Outdoor Routes".
In June 2013, Shi Man, a female teacher from Hubei, went missing while traveling through Aotai. According to informed hikers, in May 2014, a Shaanxi hiker erected a "monument" on the top of Liangshan Mountain where Shi Man went missing. The front of the monument was inscribed with the words "Aoshan Taibai Martyrs Memorial", and the back was inscribed with the words "Mountain without Tombs, Together with the Sky Que" to mourn Shi Man and other deceased hikers. This place has also become one of the iconic locations on the Aotai Line.
In May 2017, three more people died while crossing the Aotai Line. In April 2018, the Shaanxi Taibai Mountain National Nature Reserve Management Bureau and the Second Branch of the Shaanxi Provincial Forest Public Security Bureau jointly issued a notice prohibiting "Aotai crossing", but illegal crossing still persists. According to media statistics, the cumulative number of missing and dead people crossing the Aotai Line has exceeded 50.
On the morning of the 20th, the staff of the rescue hotline of Taibai Mountain Forest Park told Upstream News reporters that they had not received any relevant reports. They were only responsible for rescue activities within the park, and the airplane beam was outside the scenic area. Moreover, after the announcement was issued in 2018, similar rescue activities were mainly handled by professional rescue teams.
A staff member of the Second Branch of the Shaanxi Provincial Forest Public Security Bureau stated that it was not clear that the "Monument" of the deceased mountain friends had been demolished, but on the 19th, they did receive a rescue call. A Hunan member of an outdoor team lost contact at Maicaoling while crossing the Aotai Line. Currently, their family has contacted the rescue team and rescue efforts will be carried out on the 20th depending on weather conditions.
In April 2018, relevant departments issued a notice prohibiting "Aotai Crossing". Image source: Taibai Mountain Scenic Area official website
Upstream news reporters noticed that in the 2018 announcement, it was explicitly stipulated that all units or individuals are prohibited from entering and carrying out illegal crossing activities at will; Relevant departments and governments will conduct strict investigations and punishments on illegal crossing activities in protected areas; Units or individuals who violate regulations will be punished strictly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations once investigated and dealt with; Units or individuals who cause serious damage to natural resources and ecological environment in protected areas due to illegal crossing activities shall be dealt with in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and criminal responsibility shall be pursued; The responsibility for accidents such as personal injury or death caused by illegal crossing activities shall be borne by the unit or individual organizing the illegal crossing activities.
The staff of the Second Branch of Shaanxi Provincial Forest Public Security Bureau stated that since the relevant regulations were introduced in 2018, the branch has not yet punished illegal crossing. "Most of us discovered the situation during inspections, mainly focusing on persuading people to return."
A staff member of the Shaanxi Taibai Mountain National Nature Reserve Management Bureau told Upstream News that no similar report has been received so far. After recording the relevant information provided by the reporter, the staff stated that they will investigate the matter and see if they can intervene in the future.
Upstream news reporters also called Mr. Cheng, the person in charge of the Da Ye Hai tourist reception station at the top of Taibai Mountain. A female staff member answered the phone and said that Mr. Cheng is currently building a road on the mountain and she is not clear about the demolition of the "monument" and the loss of contact with hikers.
According to media reports, Mr. Cheng has participated in rescuing stranded hikers on the Aotai Line multiple times, and every time he and his teammates go up the mountain to rescue, they will also search for the missing Shiman in 2013. In the past few years, every May or June, when Shiman's family went to the foot of the mountain to offer sacrifices, they also sought help from Mr. Cheng and the villagers.
