After an exhaustive four-day search that gripped China’s social media, rescuers in the southwestern Yunnan province have found the body of an 8-year-old boy who went missing during a summer camp outing, intensifying scrutiny of the company that had taken him there.

The boy, from Beijing and who reportedly had autism, was found Wednesday evening in a brook on Dali’s Cangshan Mountain, near where he vanished Saturday. Authorities said he showed no signs of life when discovered, and an examination ruled out death by external causes or criminal activity.

His disappearance set off a massive search involving more than 400 police officers, firefighters, and volunteers, aided by rescue dogs, drones, and thermal imaging equipment. Online, the case dominated Chinese social media, with hashtags about the “Cangshan lost boy” drawing hundreds of millions of views as users urged others to join the hunt.

Local authorities have opened an investigation into Tomorrow’s Light, the company that organized the camp. Registered in January as a domestic services provider, the firm has run programs for children with special needs, including autism, developmental delays, and ADHD, but lacked approval from education authorities, according to domestic media.

The company promotes what it calls nature-based interventions for children with autism, a model that has drawn sharp criticism online for exposing inexperienced children to potentially dangerous environments. On social media, many dismissed the approach as a marketing ploy.

Concerns have also centered on the camp’s closed management system, which barred parents from accompanying their children. Critics say the policy increased risks, especially for those requiring close, specialized supervision.

Autistic children — who may struggle with social interaction, sensory sensitivities, and emotional regulation — face greater risks at summer camps because of limited danger awareness, said Chen Jie, head of the Shanghai-based nonprofit Qingcongquan, which offers rehabilitation courses and supervised outings for the group.

While Chen supports nature-based programs and believes autistic children should have equal opportunities to explore the outdoors, she stressed they must be accompanied by parents or professional caregivers familiar to them. Destinations, schedules, activities, and staffing, she added, should be tailored to each child’s needs.

“Eight years old is too young for even a typical child to attend an independent camp, let alone a child with autism,” she told Sixth Tone.

Although the company promised one-on-one care, seven children aged 6 to 8 were under the supervision of four teachers the day the boy went missing.

Cangshan Mountain, which rises between 3,074 and 4,122 meters above sea level, has become a popular draw for hikers and foragers. But its appeal comes with hazards, including steep cliffs, dense forests, sudden fog, and unpredictable weather that can send summer temperatures near freezing. Locals describe the terrain as treacherous, with conditions that can challenge even experienced outdoor enthusiasts.

China has about 2 million children with autism under age 14, with an estimated 160,000 new cases each year, according to a March report by the autism research agency Wucailu. Using a benchmark prevalence rate of 1%, the country’s total population with autism is estimated at 14 million.

In recent years, study tours have surged in popularity among Chinese parents seeking to broaden their children’s horizons. Parents of children with autism have embraced the trend as an alternative therapy, hoping outdoor experiences can help them connect with nature, develop social skills, and improve prospects for meaningful work in adulthood.

Public awareness and understanding of autism are gradually improving in China, alongside stronger government guidelines. Last year, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and the Ministry of Education launched a five-year plan to expand care services for children with autism and address the challenges their families face in seeking support.

Editor: Apurva.

(Header image: Photo of the 8-year-old boy who went missing in Yunnan. From Weibo)