Three tourists fall off cliff in Anyang, Henan; rescuers save them on cliff face.
On March 28, three netizens from Zhengzhou, Shanghai, and Changsha encountered a snowstorm while crossing the Langta C Line in Xinjiang. Fortunately, they were found in time by local rescuers and escaped danger.
Their actions have sparked much reflection: does this kind of adventure contradict the spirit of outdoor exploration?
Since the Yellow River rafting era, have our understanding of outdoor exploration strayed from its core?
Enlightenment
Yellow River rafting aimed to “fill a void”
The mindset was somewhat narrow
Yellow River rafting was a product of its time, reflecting a sense of national pride. In truth, rafting should be borderless.
When it comes to domestic outdoor exploration, many people won’t forget the Yellow River rafting.
In 1987, a group of young people in their “spiritual adolescence” spontaneously formed the Henan Yellow River Rafting Expedition Team. Together with the Beijing Youth Yellow River Rafting Team and the Anhui Ma’anshan Yellow River Rafting Exploration Team, they successfully completed the first descent of the Yellow River, hailed as “a feat unprecedented in the history of human rafting.”
Twenty-six years later, recalling the events, “Straight Hook Fishing” gave a wry smile: (the mindset back then) was somewhat narrow.
“Straight Hook Fishing” was one of the rafters at the time, and he navigated the Hukou Waterfall.
That year, China had just emerged from the reforms and opening up. After years of suppression, Chinese minds were liberated and national pride surged.
At the time, the National Sports Commission sold the rights for the first Yellow River rafting to a foreign expedition team. This news was seen by the public as an affront to national dignity — “we must risk everything to beat the foreigners to the first descent, and not allow them to trample on our mother river.”
Inspired by this sentiment, the Chinese team “completed the first full descent of the Yellow River using non-motorized tools, filling a gap in the history of world exploration.”
However, the expedition paid a heavy price — seven brave souls lost their lives during the descent, four of whom were from Henan.
Reflecting on the incident, “Straight Hook Fishing” said, yellow river rafting was a product of its time, embodying a sense of national spirit. But in reality, rafting should be borderless.
After completing the rafting, “Straight Hook Fishing” was promoted to deputy team leader — not only because of his abilities, but mainly because he survived while others perished.
Thinking back to that exploration, he shakes his head.
“Back then, I’d never done any rafting and had no gear. The boat was a military inflatable we borrowed, we used army coats as raingear, and we didn’t even have helmets.” “Straight Hook Fishing” said, many people didn’t die from drowning but from freezing.
Why did a nationally watched event lack proper equipment? He explained, “People had just enough to eat back then, no one in China had done any exploration, and we were all driven purely by passion.”
Embryonic Stage
Outdoor exploration meant learning as you go, and developing reverence for nature
Outdoor exploration became an opportunity for people to bond and explore nature. Everyone paid close attention to safety, and when venturing into unfamiliar areas, they would hire local guides instead of blindly entering.
The success of the Yellow River rafting served as a shot of adrenaline, renewing the nation’s understanding of exploration. But the significant sacrifices it entailed also led to deep reflection.
As a result, China’s rafting expeditions went quiet for over a decade, and outdoor exploration followed suit.
It wasn’t until around 1996 that outdoor activities incorporating exploration and hiking began to take shape.
Back then, “Old Potato” was among the first generation of outdoor enthusiasts in Henan. He said that outdoor exploration at the time was more about small group trips among friends, becoming an opportunity for bonding and exploring nature.
Back then, people had just enough to eat and wear, lacked experience, and could only learn as they went along. Some couldn’t even buy proper outdoor gear.
But that didn’t affect people’s understanding of outdoor exploration. A common trait among those early adventurers was a calm mindset and a growing reverence for nature.
“Old Potato” recalled that outdoor activities were mainly for leisure back then—groups of friends would drive out together, collaborating whether climbing mountains or wading through rivers. Gathering was more about shared interests and bonding.
Safety was a priority. Every trip was led by a seasoned “veteran,” and in unfamiliar terrain, local guides were hired to avoid reckless moves.
Management rules then seem almost amusing now. Couples without marriage certificates weren’t allowed to share tents at night.
Nowadays, those “mixed-tent” arrangements make veterans shake their heads.
Change
Ignorance breeds fearlessness—many turned exploration into reckless adventure.
Some would call themselves “hikers” just for owning a windbreaker, hit the trails in sneakers, dub any drive a “crossing,” or risk their lives for fame.
“Because it’s there.” This famous line by British mountaineer George Mallory inspired countless people to conquer peak after peak.
In 2002, outdoor sports entered a period of rapid growth, with clubs and associations springing up everywhere.
In Henan alone, there were 30,000 to 40,000 people who could be called “outdoor enthusiasts.” And that didn’t even include the “newbies.”
By then, outdoor activities had gradually become a mass pursuit, shifting from “mysterious and elite” to “trendy and fashionable.”
“Want a challenge? Seek thrills?” Every time veterans like “Superman” heard newcomers say that, they’d just sigh.
What’s a “hiker”? The term “hiker” (驴) sounds like “traveler” (旅). They skip hotels, ditch cars, and carry big backpacks—spot one, and you know: here comes a hiker.
But nowadays, some claim to be “hikers” just for owning a windbreaker, hit the trails in sneakers, dub any drive a “crossing,” or risk their lives for fame.
“Take this crossing of the Wolf Tower C Line—hardly anyone in all of Henan is actually capable of it,” said “Silent Years.” Ignorance breeds fearlessness, and many turn exploration into reckless adventure.
Awareness
Exploration should go hand in hand with reverence for nature.
Adventure must be grounded in respect for nature, serious reflection on life’s meaning, and the utmost caution against risks. After all, while life is personal, squandering it carelessly is immoral.
“The longer you play, the more you respect nature”—a phrase often repeated by veterans.
“Straight-Hook Fishing” shared that after the Yellow River drift, he tackled many other rivers, the most famous being the Moon Bay section of the Lancang River. The Moon Bay canyon is exceptionally long, steep, and treacherous—rare even globally.
“I was training for the drift when I accidentally ended up there,” said “Old Potato,” who was part of that team. They prepared for years for that drift.
They succeeded, creating yet another “first.” Looking back, what they can now laugh about was sheer brinkmanship at the time.
“Lucky, just good fortune,” said “Straight-Hook Fishing,” who drifted nearly 20,000 kilometers without a single capsizing.
He doesn’t credit his skills or experience but attributes it to “nature’s blessing.” “Humans can’t defeat nature. All we can do is respect it, care for it, and communicate with it.”
After an exploration accident, one netizen commented: The frequent mishaps reveal a core issue—our misunderstanding of exploration’s purpose. We treat it as an escape from work stress or urban anxiety, forgetting that it should stem from reverence for nature, serious life reflection, and risk awareness. Life is personal, but reckless endangerment is immoral.
One adventurer, before setting off, once posted: “In nature, life feels so small—does success even matter?”
Life may indeed be small, and success may not matter—but life shouldn’t be entrusted to a casual goal. That matters.
Links
Last year, 45 people died in mountaineering and outdoor sports accidents.
On December 22, 2012, two hikers unfortunately lost their lives while exploring the Lingshan Scenic Area in Mentougou District, Beijing.
On November 19, 2012, seven tourists got lost in Heituo Mountain, Sihai Town, Yanqing County, Beijing, resulting in two deaths.
On July 7, 2012, a man tragically drowned during canyoning in Xingshan, Hubei...
Recently, the 2012 "China Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Accident Report" was released, stating that 45 people were recorded as having died in mountain-related incidents last year.
"Years Silent," a member of the China Mountaineering Association's Research Group on Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Accidents, said that from 2001 to 2012, 265 people in China died in mountaineering and outdoor sports, whereas in the 43 years from 1957 to 2000, there were only 33 deaths in total.
Reminder
"Years Silent" is the captain of the Henan Outdoor Rescue Team under the One Foundation Rescue Alliance. Over the past seven years, they have rescued more than 2,000 people.
He said that nowadays, this spirit of adventure is commendable and worthy of encouragement, but how to improve one’s own capabilities and avoid risks is an issue that cannot be ignored.
With holidays approaching and the weather warming up, the Shangbao Jun reminds everyone: before heading out, be sure to prepare your gear and learn about outdoor knowledge. It’s best to travel with experienced hikers. While enjoying the scenery is important, protecting yourself is even more so.