The missing Taiwanese elderly hiker had still not been found as of last night. The Mentougou police announced yesterday that in the past five years, 21 “hikers” have been stranded while climbing in Mentougou, two of whom died, and two others, including the Taiwanese elderly man, remain missing to this day. In recent years, Mentougou District has carried out dozens of rescue operations each year for hikers and outdoor adventurers who get stranded.
On September 30, 2008, a teacher from the Fifth Branch of Beijing No. 5 Middle School set off around 5 a.m. to climb in Mentougou and never returned. Police, local government, and social rescue teams deployed over a thousand personnel and conducted a search for more than 10 days, but the case remains unresolved.
On April 4, 2011, Beijing police received an alert that 17 “hikers” from the Huilongguan Community Network were stranded on Ling Mountain in Mentougou. Police, local government, and civilian rescue team members assembled and set out overnight. With the help of three police helicopters, the 17 stranded individuals were successfully rescued off the mountain after a 21-hour search. A total of 290 personnel, including police, firefighters, rescue team members, and villagers, were mobilized during the operation.
On December 22, 2012, a group of over 30 “hikers” from an outdoor club were hiking on Ling Mountain, among whom two were stranded between Xiamawei and the main peak. At 5:30 p.m., they sent out a distress signal. Beijing and Hebei police, along with government and civilian rescue organizations, quickly initiated rescue efforts. Beijing Shouhang Helicopter General Company deployed a helicopter to assist. Around 12 p.m. on December 23, the two stranded individuals were located. By around 1 p.m., Hebei police confirmed that the two had unfortunately died.
At 11:50 p.m. on April 4, 2013, the Mentougou Public Security Sub-bureau received a report stating that a 60-year-old man living in Haidian had driven to Qingliangjie in Wangping Town, Mentougou District, to climb a mountain that morning at 7 a.m. and had not returned since. The Mentougou Sub-bureau immediately mobilized local police, armed police, and fire departments to form a rescue task force and began searching overnight. This rescue operation involved nearly 300 personnel, including police, village officials, and social rescue forces, as well as two police helicopters. The rescue is still ongoing.
The Mentougou police sternly advise all tourists and hiking enthusiasts to choose official scenic areas such as Ling Mountain, Baihua Mountain, and Miaofeng Mountain, to act within their capabilities, and not to risk entering unopened or undeveloped mountainous areas in pursuit of thrills. These areas lack basic tourist facilities and have communication dead zones, making personal safety unguaranteed.
Additionally, before climbing, one should check the weather conditions and avoid traveling in severe weather. Do not climb peaks during thunderstorms, avoid touching metal railings, refrain from taking shelter under trees to prevent lightning strikes. If you encounter danger or an emergency, promptly seek help from scenic area staff or call for police assistance. Don’t let “face” stop you from seeking timely rescue and miss the chance of being saved.