On June 8, Shanghai hiker Xu Guang set off from Shanghai and on June 10, he entered the Hemu no-man's land in Xinjiang alone on foot. He was scheduled to return to Shanghai by plane on June 19, but has been missing ever since. On June 30, more than ten days after Xu Guang went missing, the Xinjiang Mountain Friends Rescue Team announced after a perilous rescue operation: "Our rescue team is preparing to give up the search, and it was really difficult to make this decision."
Review
Shanghai hiker goes missing in Xinjiang; family and friends seek help from local police
At 11:19 on June 23, a netizen from Karamay, Xinjiang, @Hanyanzhi, posted on Weibo that Shanghai hiker Xu Guang had set out from Hemu in Altay to hike and explore the White Lake and the border no-man's land. He had been out of contact for over ten days. Xu Guang’s fiancée, Su Yan, had arrived in Altay on June 22, and the Altay police, together with the border defense forces, had launched a search and rescue operation. The news immediately drew widespread attention from netizens.
On June 24, the Xinjiang Metropolis Daily reported that Xu Guang had visited Xinjiang for a hike on May 27 and had posted his travel route on the “Shanghai Mofang” forum. He planned to take eight days to hike from Hemu Village via Sumu River, White Lake, and Kanas Lake to his destination, Golden Mountain. In addition, he included a route map and potential risks along the way in his post: he anticipated injuries, sprained ankles, diarrhea, brown bears, drowning, and the Kanas Lake monster. For some of these risks, he also outlined basic countermeasures. Later updates showed that his phone had satellite maps and a composite version of Russian maps downloaded. It is understood that Xu Guang was a seasoned hiker and had a certain reputation on the forum.
The day after reporting the incident on June 21, Su Yan went to Hemu and searched the White Lake no-man's land with friends, but found nothing. On June 25, Xu Guang’s father said in an interview with Xinjiang media, "Xu Guang sent me a message on the afternoon of June 10 saying he had arrived near Kanas. He said there might be no signal for the rest of the journey and asked us not to worry. But now nearly half a month has passed, and his return flight was booked for the 19th. We’re very worried something may have happened to him." "The scenic area public security bureau received a call for help from the missing person’s relatives on the mainland yesterday (June 22), and has already contacted the border defense to organize a search. Because the missing area is in a no-man's land, with high mountains and dense forests, the search is extremely difficult." On June 23, the official Weibo account of the Altay police, @Altay Public Security Online, confirmed this information.
Rescue
Xinjiang Mountain Friends Rescue Team makes efforts before preparing to give up
Since the search began on June 21, @Altay Public Security Online has been posting daily updates on the latest rescue situation on Weibo.
On June 25, @Altay Public Security Online released a video of the search for Xu Guang. The Altay police and local herders searched within a 50-kilometer range along the Hemu River to the Sumu River Forest Station. The mountainous area in June experienced continuous rainfall, rivers entered flood season, and the usual forest belts and grasslands turned into swamps, making the search extremely difficult. A staff member at the Sumu River Forest Station said, "Since arriving on June 8, we haven’t seen Xu Guang." The next day, the Altay police increased manpower for the search. But as of press time yesterday afternoon, there was no feedback from the front-line search.
About a week ago, the Xinjiang Mountain Friends Rescue Team received a request for help from Xu Guang’s family and friends. On June 26, the rescue team set off from Urumqi to the Hemu area to provide reinforcements, and then trekked deep into the Altay Mountains to conduct the search.
Yesterday, reporters from Tianfu Morning Post got in touch with Yang Jun, the captain of the Mountain Friends Rescue Team, by phone. "Our rescue team is preparing to give up the search. The family’s decision is still unclear. It was really difficult to make this decision." Regarding the decision to give up the rescue, Yang Jun explained that, first, four rescue members trekked into the mountains to search. Due to the dense vegetation and many impassable areas, along with many mosquitoes, the team members were at significant risk themselves; second, the rescuers were all volunteers who had taken leave from their jobs to participate in the rescue and could not get long leaves; third, the rescue team received the request for help relatively late—more than ten days after Xu Guang went missing—and no traces of Xu Guang’s hiking had been found, leaving little hope for his survival. Therefore, they prepared to give up the rescue. "Actually, making such a decision, we also feel helpless and frustrated," said Tianfu Morning Post reporter Chen Xue.
Hiking Precautions for Outdoor Enthusiasts
In response to the disappearance of Shanghai hiker Xu Guang in Hemu, Yang Jun advised that when traveling to Xinjiang for hiking, outdoor enthusiasts should register their plans on local outdoor websites in Xinjiang, stating their itinerary and plans, as well as whether they plan to hike into dangerous no-man’s lands. "For example, if outdoor enthusiasts from Xinjiang want to go hiking in Sichuan, they will definitely register on local outdoor websites in Sichuan beforehand. This helps local rescue teams quickly locate their routes and respond swiftly in case of emergencies."
In addition, if an outdoor enthusiast cannot be reached by the agreed time, their family and friends should contact the local rescue team as soon as possible. "Rescue teams have professional experience in rescue operations and a deeper understanding of outdoor routes and the behavior of outdoor enthusiasts. Compared to police and civilian searches, professional rescue teams offer greater expertise."
@CompressorBG4DPD: Rescue must first ensure your own safety.
@Simple-Sunken: It is suggested to look up his previously planned route and the tracks he referenced, and search along those tracks.