Two hikers die in 5,000-meter camping incident on Meili Snow Mountain

       According to the Publicity Department of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Committee in Yunnan Province, a tourist disappearance incident occurred recently in the Meili Snow Mountain scenic area of Deqen County. Three hikers strayed from the official trail, entered a restricted area, and set up camp at an altitude of 5,000 meters. After a search and rescue operation, it has been confirmed that two of the hikers died.

　　According to Zha Shiwu Dui, general manager of the Deqen Meili Snow Mountain National Park Development and Operation Co., Ltd., on July 2, female tourist Zhang from Hunan, male tourist Zhao from Anhui, and male tourist Gao from Yunnan met online and chartered a vehicle from Lijiang to Deqen for a trip. On July 3, they entered the Yubeng scenic area and stayed at the Shenpu Hotel. After checking out on July 4, they entered the Shenpu scenic area.

　　The person in charge of the Shenpu management site, Lao Ding, recalled that the three tourists did not return on the evening of July 4. Around 9 a.m. on July 5, Lao Ding spotted a female tourist, dressed in tatters and walking unsteadily, descending from an undeveloped and restricted mountainous area opposite Shenpu. Lao Ding went to meet her, and upon arrival found her unconscious. After she regained consciousness, she was identified as Zhang, one of the three missing tourists. Zhang told Lao Ding that there were two other hikers still on the mountain and asked him to go rescue them. Lao Ding immediately reported the situation to the Yubeng management station, which alerted the police and quickly organized villagers for a mountain search. Search teams focused on the area where the three were said to have camped and moved around, but despite searching until 11 p.m. that night, no missing tourists were found due to high altitude, dense forests, and poor visibility. On July 6, four police officers from the scenic area police station and Yunling Township Police Station arrived in Yubeng to assist in the search. That evening, one tourist was found dead. On the morning of July 7, searchers found another deceased male tourist.

　　Zha Shiwu Dui explained that signs had been posted at the Bucun access control system regarding restricted areas, and warning signs against entry were placed along paths in non-developed zones. The three tourists crossed a wooden bridge below the Shenpu scenic area (at 3,700 meters altitude), then deviated from the official route by climbing leftward into a non-open area and set up camp at an altitude of 5,000 meters.

　　The Meili Snow Mountain Scenic Area Administration warns that the terrain of the Meili Snow Mountain scenic area is complex and the weather is highly changeable. Especially during the current rainy season, natural disasters such as avalanches, ice collapses, mudflows, and flash floods frequently occur, and wild animals are also present. To prevent tourism safety accidents, visitors to the Mingyong Glacier and Yubeng scenic areas must follow designated routes and are strictly prohibited from entering non-open areas.