The Ao-Tai Traverse. Search “Ao-Tai accidents,” and the results are shocking. According to unofficial statistics, since 2001, there have beenmountain fatalitiesno fewer than thirtypeople. Strangely enough, the more dangerous a place is, the more it stirs people’s nerves — they are drawn to experience it, to conquer it.

The Ao-TaiTraverse is ranked among China’s top ten hiking routes and is the most grueling and challenging trail in the Qinling Mountains. In recent years, it has gradually become a popular adventure destination, a sacred place many hikers aspire to. However, in recent times, traversing the Ao Mountain–Taibai Mountain area has slowly evolved into a dangerous, outdoor-spirit-defying “race” that is spreading and intensifying.
Tian Guai Xu, a local villager from Taibai County and a rescue team guide, said: “Above the snow line on the Ao-Tai route, I’ve come across the remains of over 20 deceased hikers. They’ve been there for years, and no one even knows who they are.”
These accidents serve as a constant warning.
July 2001
Zhang and seven classmates were hiking when they got lost. Zhang went ahead alone to find the way but fell off a cliff, losing his young life.
May 2002
Well-equipped hiker Hua attempted to traverse Taibai Mountain alone. Encountering rain, he neared Baxian Platform when sudden snow and fog disoriented him. He suffered injuries from a fall and eventually died of cold and starvation.
July 2005
Forty-seven students were on a field trip near the Taibai Mountain Temple. On their return, they got lost en masse because they didn’t bring a guide, alarming the entire Baoji City Public Security Bureau.
May 2008
A group of four from the Langfang Club were climbing Taibai Mountain. Their leader, Yang Zi, suffered from altitude sickness. Despite rescue efforts, he passed away.
June 2008
Three outdoor enthusiasts from Xi’an — Zhang, Zong, and Bian — started their hike from Tangkou in Taibai County. Near Paomaliang, a disagreement caused Bian to wander off alone and he has been missing ever since.
January 2009
Thirteen outdoor participants from Xi’an, led by Qin, were traversing the Ao-Tai route. A hiker nicknamed “Great White Shark” went missing at Daliang Stone Temple, at an altitude of 3,400 meters.
January 2010
Yang from a Xi’an outdoor club, while traversing Ao Mountain, relied on his superior stamina and years of experience to leave the team and go ahead alone, which ultimately led to him getting lost.
April 2011
Three outdoor lovers died of pulmonary edema caused by a cold while traversing the Ao-Tai route at Yaowangping. They were only 32 years old.
August 2012
Nine people from Xi’an aimed to complete a one-day traverse from 23 kilometers to Tangkou. They abandoned five elderly or weaker members. Three days later, four of them walked out on their own, while the body of the leader, Xiao Nie, was recovered from a flood.
June 2013
A group including Zhang had planned to trek the Aotai route, but disagreements arose during the journey, causing Zhang and two others to split from the group. When they reached an altitude of 3,500 meters, harsh environmental conditions led to Zhang's death due to hypothermia.
July 2014
A hiking enthusiast from Qingdao went missing near Baxiantai and has not been found to this day.
August 2014
A body covered with a rain poncho was discovered near the Dashihe campsite, but the identity remains unknown.
And this year’sAotai life-and-death incidentshave once again thrust the route into the spotlight
The Aotai Traverseis one of the most physically demanding and technically challenging routes in China, serving as a true test of hikers' gear, physical strength, endurance, and mental resilience.
With altitudes above 3,000 meters, five days of heavy-load trekking, and stunning scenery along the way, it attracts countless adventurers.
Throughout the traverse, the elevation rises from 1,740 meters at the starting point in Taibai County to 3,475 meters at the Aoshan landmark tower, then to 3,523 meters at Taibai Liang, and finally to 3,767 meters at the main peak of Taibai Mountain, Baxiantai.
Most of the trek traverses the uninhabited rocky terrain formed by glacial remnants, requiring hikers about six to seven days to complete.

Repeated disappearances and fatalities, with accident rates rising year by year, compel us—beyond mourning—to analyze and assess the series of missing and death incidents on Aotai in recent years. We must not let China become a nation of forgetfulness.

The biggest killers of Taibai Mountain trekking
1Being separated from the group.The reasons for “being separated” can vary widely, but it remains the leading cause of hikers going missing. Reviewing past cases, those who became lost or perished often did so after losing contact with their team due to separation, ultimately getting lost in the primeval forest.

2
Overestimating one’s own abilitiesand seeking to show off. Many underestimate the complex and harsh geography, wildlife distribution, and volatile weather conditions on Taibai Mountain. The mountain features towering peaks, dense rivers, and rapidly changing climates—sudden shifts between cold, heat, sunshine, and rain—that have given rise to the saying “experience four seasons in a day, and different weather every ten miles.” Even in summer, temperatures on the mountain can drop well below freezing. Moreover, the traverse route across the rocky plateaus is entirely above 3,000 meters, with strong winds and oxygen levels less than half that of the plains. Some visitors come unprepared, bringing insufficient cold-weather clothing or emergency medicine, making them susceptible to illnesses when facing sudden climate changes or thin air.

3A sense of adventure and exploration.Some hikers avoid traditional tourist routes, deliberately choosing to trek through uninhabited primeval forests and areas populated by wild animals. To avoid entrance fees in protected zones, some ascend via southern slopes such as Longdong Gully and Damang River, or the northern slope’s Sancha Gorge. However, Longdong Gully on the southern slope is a key habitat for the giant panda—one of Taibai Mountain’s most protected species—and lies within a core conservation area. Excessive human activity here can negatively impact the pandas’ survival and reproduction. Areas like Baiyun Gorge and Tangkou have no established trails and are deep within virgin forests. Certain stretches follow riverbeds, posing constant risks of getting lost, wildlife attacks, freezing or starving to death, injuries from falls, or being swept away by flash floods.

4Ignoring staff warningsand posted notices, hikers often act recklessly on their own. Taibai County has repeatedly issued notices at mountain passes like Aoshan, discouraging hikers from organizing risky group climbs. The county’s Ecology Office also announces annual mountain closure periods and requires trekkers to register before ascending during hiking season—but few comply.
Additionally, the Taibai Mountain Safety Notice states:
Second: Travel in groups along designated routes and hire porters or guides. If you leave the marked trail, return the way you came immediately.

5Fourth: Immediately halt your hike during heavy snow, fog, thunderstorms, flood season, nighttime, or when encountering floods, landslides, collapses, wild animals on the path, or slippery roads. Yet some hikers, when advised by staff to turn back, become argumentative and refuse to follow evacuation instructions—creating serious safety hazards.. The organizers lacked a strong sense of responsibility. The team leaders underestimated the difficulties, failed to properly assess the physical abilities of members, and did not carefully check their equipment. A minor oversight could lead to a major accident. In the aforementioned incident, the organizers did not register with the local authorities, failed to promptly check on or search for injured or missing members during nighttime camping, and only thought to contact the missing persons or their families after the team had exited the mountains or returned to Xi'an, thus missing the optimal window for rescue. For those who were already injured or ill, no timely measures were taken, allowing the situation to escalate into a major tragedy.

6. Lack of essential wilderness survival skills. Some hikers bring insufficient or no food, clothing, or first aid supplies, lack outdoor survival knowledge and skills, and may not even know how to start a fire for warmth, fetch safe drinking water, or shelter from wind and rain. When faced with unexpected situations, they panic and flee blindly, ultimately disappearing into the vast virgin forests, leaving lifelong regrets for their loved ones.

7. Blindly trusting online travel buddies’ recommendations. Ignoring the rules and regulations set by management authorities. Many hikers online only share their experiences and what they saw and heard, rarely discussing precautions, safety measures, trail conditions, or the regulations and systems of management authorities. As a result, many outdoor enthusiasts often overlook these critical aspects.

8. Fitness activities turned into a "competition". Some teams, in an attempt to boost their influence, blindly shorten itinerary durations and increase difficulty levels, striving to achieve so-called feats like becoming “strong hikers,” “ultra-strong hikers,” or “surpassing the limits of life.” This has led to route designs such as one-day Ao Shan, two-day Ao Shan, one-day Tai Bai, two-day Tai Bai, and four-day Ao-Tai that defy the laws of human endurance. When accidents occur, there are no adequate contingency measures, resulting in major incidents.

9. The Ao-Tai route. In itself, is not an extremely difficult trail. It has relatively low transportation costs, low trekking expenses, and not very high altitudes, which naturally attracts more hikers. However, among medium-difficulty routes, the accident rate is relatively higher. Moreover, most mobile phones have no signal in the mountains, and some hikers do not carry walkie-talkies, meaning that if they encounter danger, no one may know.

. 10. The difficulty of the Ao-Tai route. Is a step up compared to weekend hiking and camping, placing higher demands on equipment selection, physical preparation, team coordination, information gathering, and backup plan formulation. For those attempting a long-distance trek for the first time, there are many blind spots—each aspect requires time for research, practice, and fine-tuning. For example, whether the equipment is suitable for the weather, temperature, and water availability during the trip; whether there is training to enhance the ability to carry heavy loads over long periods; whether health checks have been done; whether the team has trained together for a significant period; whether the backup plan is reasonable and executable; and whether there is an emergency plan. Problems often arise due to inadequate preparation.

. Looking back at the many years of Ao-Tai crossings, aside from enjoying the beauty of nature, what have they brought to the Ao-Tai route? Can lives be disregarded, and can nature be wantonly destroyed? Just look at the 2800 Camp, 3100 Camp, Shuiwozi Camp, Xiyuan Pass Camp, Dongyuan Camp, Dashih River Camp, and the various reception stations on Tai Bai Mountain. The already scarce trees have been cut down and burned, and the ground is littered with empty gas canisters, remnants of burnt trash, and broken trekking poles. The camps and reception stations have been turned into garbage dumps by self-proclaimed “nature-loving” hikers.
. Outdoor “strong hikers” marching into Ao Shan, what exactly are you pursuing? What are you trying to show off? Is this really the “outdoors” in your hearts?
. With frequent accidents, let the alarm bells ring constantly—cherish life and stay safe outdoors.