Rescue teams were equipped with a wide array of costly gear.
Key Points:
On March 19, Li Xiong, a 23-year-old hiker from Bijie, Guizhou, and the leader of this trekking expedition who loved hiking adventures, fell to his death in the 215-meter-deep "Fairy Cave" in Muzhuo Township, Zhenxiong County, Yunnan. Upon learning of the incident, the Guizhou Youth Volunteer Emergency Rescue Corps rushed to the site to assist. After three days of searching, rescuers brought the body back to the surface (as reported in our continuous coverage). Yesterday, Li Xiong’s remains were returned to his hometown in Sanbanqiao Town, Bijie City, for burial.
While mourning the victim, experts pointed out that such outdoor expeditions, carried out without proper safety measures, can cause not only personal and familial harm when accidents occur but also impose high rescue costs on society... Therefore, let’s not turn exploration into “adventure.”
The “Cost Comparison” Between Exploration and Rescue
The deceased hiker, Li Xiong, 23, was the team leader of this hiking expedition and an enthusiast of trekking adventures.
On New Year’s Day this year, Li Xiong and several others arranged via Baidu Tieba to hike from Yangshuo, Guangxi, to Hoh Xil, Qinghai. According to companions, although they had just met, Li Xiong took great care of everyone during the journey. Before the accident, they even stayed at Li Xiong’s home for nine days to rest before continuing via Yunnan toward their destination.
“From Yangshuo, Guilin, we spent only 2 yuan per person per day,” said He Longkang, a 20-year-old hiker from Shaanxi who traveled with Li Xiong. “We ate and slept along the way. The 2 yuan was used to buy some noodles, pick some wild vegetables, start a fire to cook, and if we were lucky, we could even catch some birds for meat...”
In contrast to the low cost of this hiking trip, the rescue costs were extremely high.
Yan Changfeng, head of the Guizhou Youth Volunteer Emergency Rescue Corps, learned of the accident involving the Guizhou hikers on the evening of March 20. That same day, he asked several team members to prepare supplies for departure to Yunnan. The deployment of rescue equipment and vehicles, as well as the purchase of food and fuel, were all covered by Yan Changfeng himself. In stark contrast to the hikers’ low-cost journey, Yan Changfeng and others put aside their jobs and invested 50,000 yuan in the rescue operation.
During the rescue attempt on March 22, the cable used to pull Li Xiong’s body snapped. This 100-meter-long rope, a piece of specialized rescue equipment, cost 40 yuan per meter. Yan Changfeng said the cost of such equipment wear and tear should not be borne by the individual involved. On March 23, four domestic rescue teams, including the Guizhou team, stated during a meeting with local Zhenxiong County government officials that they would not allow any government funds to be used for the rescue.
Yan Changfeng noted that unlike rescue efforts following the Wenchuan and Yushu earthquakes in Sichuan and Gansu respectively, this deep cave search and rescue mission posed the greatest difficulty and highest risk, leading to a corresponding increase in the manpower and material resources required by local government departments.
Don’t Let Exploration Turn into “Adventure”
During the rescue operation in Yunnan, Li Mingsong, a team member, was the first to see the body of the missing Li Xiong. “When we found him, he was still carrying a coil of rope, but it wasn’t being used for cave exploration, so there was no safety protection when he slipped and fell. Additionally, the victim had a knife tied to his lower leg with no protective gear, making secondary injuries highly likely.”
After news of Li Xiong’s death spread online, it drew attention from netizens. One Weibo user commented that self-organized outings, lacking safety awareness and professional medical support, may be cheaper than organized tours, but the risks are immeasurable.
Ning Hua, head of the Guizhou Starting Point Outdoor Sports Club, believes that caving is an activity with strong exploratory and adventurous elements that requires significant technical skill and endurance. Ascenders, descenders, helmets, headlamps, ropes, and other gear are merely basic caving equipment. Ordinary outdoor enthusiasts looking to engage in this sport must assess the risks associated with the route, campsite, and activities, and preferably go with professionals. “Otherwise, exploration becomes adventure.”
Extended Reading
How to Travel Outdoors Safely
Industry insiders estimate that there are currently around 40–50 registered outdoor sports clubs and companies in Guiyang, offering activities such as hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, caving, and skydiving. However, there is currently no unified national qualification certification or mandatory entry standard in China—clubs can be formed with just two staff members.
“Without mandatory entry standards, potential safety hazards are easily overlooked,” analyzed Gan Xiaochuan, a national vocational qualification instructor for mountain and outdoor sports and a member of the national standard review panel for high-risk sports. In recent years, the rapid expansion of the outdoor sports community has led to frequent domestic safety incidents, primarily due to: a lack of outdoor knowledge and weak safety awareness among hikers; low entry barriers for organizing groups—even casual online meetups can form teams; and the absence of relevant industry regulations or travel safeguards.
“Venturing out without professional guides, proper equipment, or knowledge of the local terrain and environment is also a major reason for frequent accidents,” Gan Xiaochuan said.
It is understood that since 2007, the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau and the Mountaineering Association have been conducting training programs across the province covering theoretical knowledge on terrain, equipment, and safety, as well as practical skills such as tool usage and risk avoidance. These programs have trained over 100 professionals. Currently, a national mandatory qualification certification standard is under development, and discussions are underway to establish a dedicated mountain rescue team in Guizhou.
Industry insiders suggest that for group outings in mountainous outdoor sports, it’s best to use a commercial model with professional guides to ensure relatively higher safety.