Mountain guide Jian Zhicheng led a team on a traverse from Nenggao to Andongjun Mountains at the end of October last year. During the trip, team member Qiu Chuikun was left behind due to abdominal pain near the Wandananxi River. Neither teammates nor the leader stayed with him, and Qiu later died of hypothermia and shock. Prosecutors concluded the investigation and filed charges against guide Jian Zhicheng and two teammates, Hong Zonglong and Cao Junyan, on suspicion of negligent homicide.
Prosecutors stated that the case was brought primarily to remind the mountaineering community of the importance of safety. Leaders must monitor their team members' conditions, provide necessary assistance and care, and keep close track of the itinerary to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
This rare prosecution case occurred in late October last year. In the indictment, prosecutors noted that Jian Zhicheng led the Jet Rabbit Mountaineering Team on a traverse from Nenggao Mountain to Andongjun Mountain (entering via Tunyuan and exiting via Aowandan, covering a six-day route). On November 2, Qiu Chuikun was unable to continue due to stomach pain and stayed at the riverbed of the Wandananxi, where he later died of hypothermic shock.
Prosecutors concluded that Jian Zhicheng neither carried a radio nor waited for the lagging teammate before proceeding with the hike, leaving Qiu alone at the Wandananxi. The accompanying teammates, Hong Zonglong and Cao Junyan, were aware that Qiu could not walk but did not provide necessary aid, leaving him stranded in the wilderness. They also failed to report the incident promptly after descending. All three were therefore charged with negligent homicide. Considering that Hong and Cao have no prior criminal record and are both over seventy years old, the prosecutors requested leniency in sentencing.