On March 28, a female hiker from Zhengzhou and two online friends set out to sightsee in Xinjiang. Due to insufficient gear, they entered a no-man's-land, encountered an earthquake and blizzard en route, and were stranded in the mountains for two days. At around 10 a.m. yesterday, the three trapped individuals were rescued thanks to the timely efforts of a rescue team. □ Reporter Ye Yu, Dongfang Today
　　[Distress Call] Zhengzhou hiker trapped while exploring no-man's-land
　　 At 22:19 on March 29, a netizen @GuLaoXiEr posted on Weibo: "Received a plea for help from a netizen in Xinjiang. Zhengzhou outdoor enthusiast Sheng Ruo Xia Hua entered a no-man's-land without adequate gear. Currently, there is heavy snow in the mountains, and the situation is extremely dangerous. Their phone has been out of signal for two days. Please help share this and contact Zhengzhou outdoor enthusiasts or me. Friends who know Xia Hua, please also get in touch with me."
　　 Subsequently, the Weibo post was shared thousands of times, with netizens offering various suggestions—some helped contact local rescue teams, others suggested calling the police, and some even notified the family through indirect channels.
　　 According to Ma Juan, a staff member at the Grassland Station in Hutubi County, Xinjiang, on the afternoon of March 28, three hikers were spotted in the foothills of the Langta route, planning to cross Langta C. However, the trio had poor equipment—they had neither a GPS nor a map. After their persuasion failed, the station provided them with rations and a GPS, and noted down their phone numbers and home addresses.
　　 The next day, still concerned, Ma Juan tried calling the trio but couldn’t get through.
　　 Considering the cold mountain climate and the trio’s inadequate gear, Ma Juan grew very worried. She managed to contact their friend @GuLaoXiEr in Zhengzhou by checking the QQ zone of one of the hikers, @RiskyXiaoWangZi.
　　[Rescue] After 24 hours of searching, three hikers successfully rescued
　　 On the evening of March 29, Yang Jun, head of the Xinjiang Mountaineering Rescue Team, saw the news about the three trapped hikers on Weibo. After contacting @GuLaoXiEr and assessing the risk level of the route, he initiated a rescue plan based on a comprehensive analysis.
　　 At around 9:30 a.m. on March 30, the rescue team dispatched four members carrying camping gear to Qiergou Town Police Station in Hutubi County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, where they joined forces with local public security officers to begin the rescue operation. Judging by their lack of hiking experience, the team concluded the trio might not be able to cross Baiyanggou Pass. The rescuers set up a command center at Baiyanggou Coal Mine and a relay station at the oil tank area, while search team members hurried toward Baiyanggou Pass.
　　 Later, the rescuers overcame all difficulties and ventured deep into the Tianshan Mountains to search. Along the way, they encountered a blizzard and 14 rescuers had to camp 12 kilometers away from the pass.
　　 To speed up the pursuit, the search team abandoned non-essential gear and moved forward lightly equipped. Within just a few hours, they reached the vicinity of Baiyanggou Pass to conduct focused searches.
　　 At around 10 a.m. yesterday, the Xinjiang Mountaineering Rescue Team and local Hutubi County rescue forces found the three individuals on the northern slope of Baiyanggou Pass, resting in their tent. Yesterday afternoon, the three trapped hikers were safely sent back.
　　[Reminder]
　　No matter how beautiful the scenery, it’s not worth risking your life to explore
　　 At around 16:00 yesterday, a reporter from Dongfang Today contacted @RiskyXiaoWangZi, who said the three had returned safely and urged everyone not to worry.
　　 "We heard the scenery in the mountains was nice, so we wanted to go take a look." The Zhengzhou hiker @RiskyXiaoWangZi said that a month ago, she and two friends from other cities had planned a trip to Xinjiang. Later, the three took trains separately to Urumqi.
　　 "The Langta C route is one of China's top-level restricted high-risk hiking trails. I once thought it was a place I could never reach in my lifetime, but now it’s right in front of me. I think this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done," @RiskyXiaoWangZi posted on Weibo at 17:10 on March 27.
　　 After entering the mountains, it took them two days to walk 50 kilometers to reach the legendary Baiyanggou Pass, with vast grasslands in between and snow-capped mountains all around—a breathtaking view. Just as they were about to move on, they felt the ground shake violently. It was later confirmed to be an earthquake, with the epicenter less than 50 kilometers away.
　　 After the quake, they continued on, but then heavy snow suddenly fell. They planned to return the way they came and find a safe spot to pitch a tent for the night, but soon the rescue team arrived.
　　 A professional outdoor expert reminded that with the Qingming holiday approaching, many people will be traveling, but no matter where you go, safety must come first. No matter how beautiful the scenery, it’s not worth risking your life to explore.