Summer is the peak season for Tibet travel. Travelers flood online platforms with scenic photos and personal reflections, creating a lively scene. However, at 8:40 AM on July 13, a netizen posted a plea for help on Sina Blog: their friend @IamtheGiraffe’sNecktie arrived in Golmud, Qinghai on July 7, and cycled to Lhasa on the 8th and 9th. During this period, they suffered from altitude sickness and fell into a coma at their hotel on the evening of the 9th until discovered by the hotel owner.
The injured traveler is the owner of a company in Wenling
Through multiple verifications, reporters learned that the netizen involved, surnamed Jin, is the owner of a cable manufacturing company in Wenling, a member of the Wenling Young Entrepreneurs Association, around 30 years old, and unmarried.
Nurse Arong from the emergency department of Golmud People’s Hospital in Qinghai said the hospital received an emergency call after 11 PM on July 9 and the patient was brought to the hospital in the early hours of July 10.
The person who brought him in was a hotel owner, whose establishment is located near Budingquan. The hospital contacted the patient’s family via Jin’s mobile phone, and his brother has since arrived by his side.
As of 7 PM last night, Mr. Jin remains in a coma — this marks the fifth day.
Dr. Qing from the high-altitude illness specialty department at Golmud People’s Hospital explained that these are symptoms of severe cerebral edema. However, his breathing pattern showed slight improvement yesterday, the area of edema reduced marginally, and coughing eased somewhat, though suctioning is still required to clear phlegm.
Dr. Qing stated that due to the patient’s unstable respiratory function, transferring him is not advisable. Moreover, Golmud itself sits at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, which is relatively more suitable for treatment compared to the over 4,000-meter elevation where he was.
Group trip ends with him left alone at the hotel
Mr. Jin’s brother is unaware of the exact route his younger sibling took, only that he likely flew to Golmud. Due to a flight delay, the other travelers — more than ten people — had already set off earlier, while he took a vehicle directly to an area at over 4,000 meters in altitude and began cycling. Prior to the incident, he may have had a mild cold.
Netizen yrh6223657 described in a blog post that Mr. Jin “rode about 100 kilometers on the first day, and on the second day probably reached the area near Budingquan, the northern gate of the Hoh Xil uninhabited region, at an altitude of 4,600 meters — nearly 2,000 meters higher than Golmud. He was barely hanging on. On the third day, he rested at the hotel while his teammates continued on...”
His brother happens to be a doctor in the intensive care unit at Wenling Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. He said he opposed his younger brother’s trip from the beginning.
“I told him that severe altitude sickness could lead to serious consequences, but he wouldn’t listen. He said many people from all over the country were going together, and it might have been because of the flight delay that he was the only one left behind.”
Caution advised for high-altitude travel with cardiopulmonary conditions or family history
“My impression is that he was in good health — didn’t smoke or drink, no ‘bad habits,’” said Mr. Chen, also a member of the Wenling Youth Entrepreneurs Association. Two or three months ago, Mr. Jin started working out at the gym to prepare for the trip.
His brother also said his younger brother was in decent shape. “But being healthy at low altitudes doesn’t mean you’re adapted to high altitudes!” The brother repeated this line three times.
Dr. Qing from Golmud People’s Hospital said that apart from tourists, the high-altitude illness ward often treats workers from inland areas who come to work at high altitudes. These individuals are confident in their health and unaware of the risks of altitude sickness, delaying initial treatment and ending up in serious condition upon hospitalization.
Why do people who feel healthy at low altitudes struggle at high altitudes? Yesterday, reporters interviewed Wang Bozhong, deputy director of the Rehabilitation Department at Zhejiang Hospital, who has conducted physical examinations and evaluations for many Zhejiang officials aiding Tibet.
Wang Bozhong said this contrast mainly stems from two factors.
First, upon reaching high-altitude regions, the low air pressure and reduced oxygen levels cause hypoxia in the body. Minor issues often overlooked can become triggers for altitude sickness. Many young people, assuming they’re healthy, easily recover from colds at low altitudes but let their guard down at high altitudes. In reality, a cold in such regions can become a lethal “killer,” worsening hypoxia and increasing ischemia and hypoxia in vital organs like the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys, potentially triggering acute pulmonary edema or cerebral edema.
Second, many people are unaware of underlying, latent illnesses.
Common latent conditions include hidden coronary heart disease, which shows no symptoms under normal circumstances but can be triggered by fatigue or strenuous activity, leading to arrhythmia; latent asthma, which may be provoked by strenuous exercise, sudden environmental changes, a “cold,” or certain medications; borderline hypertension, where blood pressure is within the upper limit of the normal range but may spike abnormally due to high-altitude conditions or fatigue; congenital intracranial aneurysms, which usually show no signs but can rupture suddenly due to altitude intolerance, causing sudden death; as well as individuals with poor lung development or function, who normally have adequate respiratory capacity but may experience compensatory failure under stress or at high altitudes, risking respiratory failure.
Wang Bozhong recommends undergoing a health check-up before traveling to high altitudes.
“When reviewing medical reports, pay special attention to three items: blood pressure, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms,” Wang said. Hypertensive patients should keep their blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, ideally around 130/80 mmHg. Those with borderline hypertension should monitor fluctuations and may undergo further exercise blood pressure tests. Chest X-rays mainly check for organic lung diseases, but reports should be considered alongside factors like a history of asthma, persistent coughs, or family lung disease history. Electrocardiograms should be reviewed for signs like “ST-T changes or arrhythmias such as premature beats,” as ST-T indicators reflect myocardial ischemia.
Wang Bozhong told reporters that pre-trip evaluations primarily focus on the heart and lungs, as these organs are most affected by high altitudes and low oxygen.
“Earlier this year, a young official preparing to aid Tibet came in for a check-up. Due to ST-T changes in his ECG, and further cardiopulmonary evaluations, I advised canceling the Tibet assignment.”
Taking the train is better than flying
However, the hospital’s assessment provides only an adaptation evaluation for low-altitude areas. Proper planning is still needed to adjust to high altitudes.
Wang Bozhong said that when people go to high altitudes, their bodies need time to adapt. "Generally speaking, traveling to high altitudes by train is better than by plane."
On the first day at high altitude, be sure to rest and absolutely avoid taking a shower. "Taking a shower consumes oxygen and energy, and can also easily lead to catching a cold."
At the same time, any minor discomfort—such as a cold or cough—is a warning signal from your body that should not be ignored. Continuing strenuous activities like cycling after catching a cold will further reduce oxygen levels.
Wang Bozhong recommends that if you experience any of the following symptoms while traveling at high altitude—such as headache, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, noticeable pulsing in the temples, loss of appetite, weakness in the limbs, difficulty concentrating, slow reaction, or easily becoming tense or agitated—"you must stop and not push through it."