Staring at the rising, razor-thin ridge that lay ahead, Jiang Bin shouldered his pack, turned, and headed back down the slope. The 25-year-old had always wanted to trek the daunting Lenglongling area in northwestern China, but he knew his limits.

It was a lucky escape. Two days later, while still making his descent, Jiang discovered that the members of his group who had pushed on were among hundreds of hikers trapped by a whiteout at Laohugou, or “Tiger Gully,” a high-altitude glacier basin.

Local authorities confirmed on Oct. 7 that 251 hikers had to be evacuated from the area, with one person from Taiwan confirmed dead after developing hypothermia and altitude sickness.

As hiking and other adventure sports grow in popularity across China, enthusiasts have begun seeking out undeveloped or little-known spots, often promoted among online communities as “hidden gems.” As a result, accidents and disappearances are increasingly common, with trekking-related emergencies reported nationwide during this year’s eight-day National Day break at the beginning of October.

According to a recent report by the China Adventure Association, 335 outdoor adventure accidents occurred last year, resulting in 84 deaths, 92 injuries, and 11 missing persons. Hiking accounted for 244 of these incidents.

Approaching disaster

The Lenglongling area is characterized by complex terrain, volatile weather, and high elevations, making it far from a “beginner’s trail” for hikers. It forms part of the Qilian Mountains, a natural border between the northwestern Qinghai and Gansu provinces.

There are two main routes through the region, according to users’ posts on the Chinese outdoor app 2bulu, where hikers can share GPS tracks and altitude profiles, and upload real-time photos of their walks, offering tips and observations. The established path stretches about 56 kilometers, with a total elevation gain of 1,839 meters, while the less-traveled route is 68 kilometers long and climbs 1,626 meters. Both pass through Tiger Gully, where the average elevation is above 4,000 meters.

Mu Yi, who was part of a group that arrived in the mountains on Oct. 3, says the initial trek to Luanshiwo, up 3,600 meters, is relatively easy, with herders’ cabins dotted along the way. “After that, you’re basically in the core zone,” he says — the elevation rises sharply and thick fog sets in.

Qin Yuan, a 20-year-old university student, was among a group of eight adventurers that also attempted the hike over the holiday. She started mountain trekking two years ago, and before this trip consulted experienced hikers for advice and packed professional-grade equipment for altitudes above 5,500 meters. Although it was a four-day trek, her team carried enough supplies for seven.

On Oct. 4, they drove off-road vehicles to the trailhead and hiked to their first campsite. Qin remembers that the weather was clear and the accumulated snow posed no significant challenges. However, one person appeared unwell, so was sent back down the mountain with a local herder.

Like many of those who made the trip to Qinghai, Qin had originally planned to cross Gansu’s Zhagana scenic area over the holiday. However, she had to switch last minute when local authorities on Oct. 1 banned trekking in undeveloped areas after one hiker died and two others temporarily disappeared.

Her group had already arrived at Zhagana, but after several discussions its leaders determined that the members were sufficiently experienced to attempt Lenglongling, which features similar altitudes. “I just wanted to enjoy some scenery,” Qin says, adding that she never intended to complete the route.

On Oct. 5, Qin’s team continued along the trail unaware that police in Qinghai’s Menyuan Hui Autonomous County had received a distress call at noon from a separate group of hikers that had entered Lenglongling three days earlier without registering their trip. They had been caught in heavy snow at Tiger Gully, and one member was in critical condition.

Warning signs

That morning, it had started snowing at the campsite, and Qin noticed that some hikers were turning back. But her group decided to press on, confident in the knowledge that they had a satellite phone, a drone for navigation, as well as ropes, ice axes, and trekking poles.

The team conducted a risk assessment and agreed to stay on their planned route. If the snowfall intensified, they would retreat. After walking about three kilometers, they came across some empty tents, which they believed were left by herders who had retreated from the mountain because of the sudden drop in temperature.

As they continued to ascend, the snow and wind grew heavier, and they passed more hikers making their way back down the slope. Qin says the temperature plunged below zero. Her group finally decided to turn around.

Weather high up in the Qilian Mountains is notoriously volatile. Mu recalls that the sky was overcast on Oct. 3 but cleared the next day, with bright sunshine. By around 3 p.m., however, thick clouds began to gather, and the weather quickly turned, bringing heavy snow.

Mu’s four-person group camped overnight at Luanshiwo, and the next morning three members decided to retreat, while one chose to continue. “Whenever there’s extreme weather, we usually retreat immediately. We would never put ourselves in real danger,” he says.

As Qin made her descent with her team, she came across the same herder that had helped her teammate return to base the day before. He was guiding another group of hikers and invited Qin’s team to shelter in his cabin, which had a stove. They shared a meal and rested.

Throughout the day, more retreating trekkers began arriving, and just after 10 p.m., the herder received a phone call about a missing hiker.

Earlier that day, Mu had found that the river his group had crossed on the way out was now swollen. October is typically a dry season in the Qilian Mountains, when the rivers are low, yet after heavy snowfall at a nearby mountain pass on Oct. 3, followed by sunshine the next day, the resulting melt had raised the water level and quickened the current.

Rescue operation

Before attempting the Lenglongling area, Jiang had trekked several mountain routes, the highest being Wutai Mountain in the northern Shanxi province, which peaks at around 3,000 meters.

But this time he realized he had overestimated his ability. The Lenglongling routes have no resupply points, and with a heavy pack, insufficient equipment, and limited tolerance for high-altitude conditions, he didn’t dare push further. Two other members of his 14-strong group also decided to withdraw.

After backtracking about halfway, they camped at the foot of a slope and were joined by a lone hiker who had turned back because of the snow.

The next day, Jiang learned that two more teammates had chosen to retreat when a blizzard hit the mountains. Seven experienced members remained, determined to complete the trek.

On Oct. 5, local authorities dispatched rescue teams to persuade hikers to turn back. The Lenglongling trail has no cellphone signal, and some hikers hadn’t contacted their families for days, causing anxiety back home. It wasn’t until word spread that someone had died that a hiker’s relative called the police. Officers launched a search starting at a reservoir in Menyuan, the trail’s endpoint.

Jiang was among 16 hikers found sheltering at a herder’s home on the night of Oct. 5. Police officers, firefighters, and volunteers provided them hot drinks and a place to stay, and helped arrange transport down the mountain.

None of them wanted to discuss the hiker who had lost his life.

“Too many novices”

In the wake of the tragedy, Jiang Wanwen, deputy secretary-general of the China Adventure Association, stated that the hikers trapped on the Lenglongling trail had underestimated the sudden and lethal nature of extreme weather.

She believes many trekking groups today are not officially registered and are failing to adequately assess the risks, prepare necessary equipment, or ensure an effective emergency response strategy.

When teams are informally assembled, with members of unknown backgrounds and unverified experience, they are highly likely to lack the coordination required for high-altitude trekking, Jiang Wanwen says. “In wilderness exploration, a team’s strength isn’t simply the sum of its members but rather the integration of individual skills. If the group changes routes or splits up, with no shared understanding of crucial information like weather and supplies, the safety risks escalate significantly.”

Mu’s team were longtime friends who knew each other well. However, he says he has encountered many groups composed of strangers who connected through social media.

Drawing from years of experience, Mu emphasizes that at high altitudes, once a person starts moving along a trail, they should avoid stopping, as this can cool their sweat, increasing the risk of hypothermia. And when groups have varying levels of physical fitness, danger is more likely to strike.

Sometimes, when it’s not possible to wait for slower members, a group will stretch out and split into smaller units. “There are cases where teammates get left behind, some continuing with other groups, while others turn back alone,” Mu adds.

He also recalls encounters with inexperienced group leaders. Before reaching Luanshiwo, there was a small river that most could step across easily. He says that when a female hiker slipped, soaking her shoes and pants, the leader insisted she continue despite the dangerously low temperatures.

“There were too many novices on this trip,” Mu complains. “Some had to share crampons, others didn’t bring down jackets, and some didn’t even have sleeping bags or tents — yet they charged into the mountains anyway.”

Although some believe “anyone with legs can go hiking or mountaineering,” Qin argues that treks should never be undertaken on a whim; enthusiasts must be aware of the gear, skills, and stamina before proceeding. While lightweight equipment is important, safety and performance should always come first. “Outdoor activities are not a game,” she stresses.

Jiang Wanwen agrees and says hikers should have a clear understanding of their destination’s climate, stay up to date on weather changes, and be realistic about their abilities and limits. It’s vital to choose certified professional organizations and qualified leaders, and seek expert advice for preparing appropriate outdoor clothing and equipment, she adds.

On Oct. 5, authorities in Qinghai and Gansu launched a joint rescue operation, delivering emergency supplies including coats and heaters to stranded hikers and setting up temporary aid stations along the route.

Qinghai’s Menyuan County and Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture both issued notices on Oct. 5 prohibiting exploration and hiking activities in undeveloped regions, including the Lenglongling area. An inspection of key locations was conducted in the hope of preventing similar incidents.

(Due to privacy concerns, all names except Jiang Wanwen are pseudonyms.)

Reported by Yuan Lu, Ye Peiqi, and Hu He.

A version of this article originally appeared in The Paper. It has been translated and edited for brevity and clarity, and is republished here with permission.

Translator: Chen Yue; contributions: Li Pasha; editors: Wang Juyi and Hao Qibao.

(Header image: Heavy snow falls on Mu Yi’s campsite at Luanshiwo, on the Lenglongling trail, Qinghai province, Oct. 5, 2025. Courtesy of Mu Yi)