Taiwanese couple Liang Shengyue and Liu Chenjun went hiking in the Himalayas of Nepal. News of their disappearance broke on March 10, drawing concern from family and friends back home. Liang’s family coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India to seek assistance from Nepalese police in the search. The two were found by a rescue team in a valley yesterday. Liang had lost 30 kilograms but was conscious, while Liu sadly passed away after falling into the valley. Friends and family were heartbroken and reluctant to accept the news, but also offered their blessings that she would live stubbornly in the other world.
When news of their disappearance reached Taiwan, many friends and family members sent messages of support online, firmly believing the two were simply “in a distant snowy mountain with no signal.” Liang’s father also said in an interview that he had faith in his son and believed he would be safe and sound. Liu Chenjun’s most admired teacher, Wu Mingyi, also posted to help with the search. Everyone maintained a positive outlook while waiting for their return, emphasizing that “they were not people who underestimated the mountains. They did not recklessly put their safety at risk, nor were they driven solely by youthful impulsiveness or reckless adventure. It’s just that the mountains are never merciful.”
Now with the news of Liu Chenjun’s passing, Donghua University stated last night that Liu had applied for a leave of absence before heading to Nepal. The university will provide relevant assistance if her family requests it. For now, out of respect for the family, the university will not speak on their behalf, but all faculty and students are deeply saddened by the news of her death.
Liu Chenjun, a Chinese literature major at Donghua University, was seen by her classmates as an outgoing, nature-loving, socially conscious friend with unique insights and stories. She was enthusiastic about club activities. This Himalayan hiking trip had been planned and arranged since last semester. She took a one-semester leave of absence to spend four months in India. During her travels, she stayed in close contact with her friends. In February, friends urged the pair to stay safe, to which Liu replied, “I’ll survive.”
Friends left numerous messages of blessing on Liu’s Facebook page: “Thank you for being in my life. You showed me what purity, courage, and passion for something truly mean,” “Live stubbornly in the other world!” and “You were a free person, a happy soul, someone who wouldn’t confine yourself to limited surroundings—you would have traveled far and wide.” They also encouraged Liang, the lucky survivor: “We believe Shengyue must be heartbroken too. He must have been emotionally exhausted during that time, but once he gets through this, he will surely have more important missions to fulfill.”
(China Times)