The Accident Vehicle
In October, an 80s-born couple from Chengdu were self-driving to Shangri-La when they chose a difficult mountain road and fell off a cliff, resulting in their deaths. Less than a month later, news emerged that three hikers who had gone to Niubei Mountain together also died in an accident, again on a mountain road. The driver has been criminally detained for traffic accident offenses. With winter approaching, we hope those planning self-drive trips will make full preparations, choose the right routes, and put safety first.
Follow-up: "Chengdu Hikers Encounter Danger on Niubei Mountain, 3 Dead and 4 Injured"
Chengdu hikers encountering danger on Niubei Mountain has touched the hearts of many over the past few days. As of yesterday, the investigation and aftermath work are still ongoing. Yesterday, the families of the three deceased once again went to the Ya'an funeral parlor to visit them and changed their clothes. Subsequently, the families of "Xiang Da Xiang" Xiang Jinhai and "Da Xiong" Yang Xiongwei left Ya'an, and the family of "Lin Xiaomei" Lin Lei will also leave today. However, the families have agreed to return to Ya'an on the 13th to inquire about new developments in the accident investigation and aftermath.
[Departure]
Changing Clothes for the Deceased "Believing the Matter Will Be Resolved Fairly"
Although the families were very anxious, they did not go to the relevant departments yesterday. "Give them a bit more time," said Mr. Chen, the brother-in-law of Lin Lei. Moreover, they could already feel that the relevant departments had made a lot of efforts in the accident investigation and family consolation. "We believe the matter will ultimately be resolved fairly and reasonably."
There was little point in staying any longer. Before leaving Ya'an, the families agreed to buy new clothes for the three deceased and then went to the funeral parlor to change their clothes. "They all loved sports so much, so let’s dress them in sporty attire." The clothes chosen for Lin Lei and Yang Xiongwei were grey, while only "Chou Chou" picked out a bright yellow sports jacket and jeans for her boyfriend Xiang Haijin. "I like seeing him looking handsome."
After Xiang Haijin’s family returned to Chengdu, the medical equipment company where he had worked even specially took the family to visit his office. "The leaders and colleagues all praised him as outstanding."
[Impact]
Winter Is Peak Season, but Business Turned Cold After the Accident
"Business is almost impossible to keep going." Chen Bo, owner of Xiangyun Inn on Niubei Mountain, said that after the accident on the 9th, traffic police set up a checkpoint outside the Sanhe Township government, controlling the road up the mountain from Sanhe Township. But some hikers still managed to get up via Lengqi Town in Luding County. By the 10th, the number of vehicles going up the mountain had dropped to seven, and yesterday only one vehicle went up. Chen Bo believes this accident has cast a shadow over hikers' minds. "Currently it's peak season for Niubei Mountain. Many tourists come to see the snow scenery. Previously, there were usually two to three hundred people going up every day, and on weekends the number would reach around a thousand."
Chen Bo was actually at the scene when the hikers had their accident. The first photo of the scene posted on Weibo was taken by him. "The accident site is still 500 meters away from Chundian Gully—it’s just the beginning of the climb, the start of the first slope," Chen Bo said. On the entire uphill route, the accident section isn’t the most dangerous—two ore trucks could even pass each other. Chen Bo recommends that hikers go up from the Luding County Lengqi Town side. "Locals familiar with the road conditions generally wouldn’t take the Sanhe side." Reporter Ding Wei and Wu Liufeng, Huaxi Metropolis Daily
[Reminder] When Self-Driving Niubei Mountain in Winter, Beware of Multiple Forks and Don’t Take the Wrong Turn
Wen Haoming, owner of Niubei Mountain Xingchen Inn, reminds those going on self-drive trips to Niubei Mountain to prepare well in terms of personnel and equipment, and to gather as much timely information as possible about road conditions and weather. You can follow the Weibo accounts of various Niubei Mountain inns or follow the “Niubei Mountain” WeChat public account. Additionally, here are some special reminders.
Many Stone Roads, High Demands on Vehicles
It’s best to use four-wheel-drive off-road vehicles with high ground clearance and strong off-road performance. Urban SUVs such as two-wheel-drive CRVs are not recommended for trying this route. Also, the roads along the way are mainly stone roads, so vehicles should use tires with good off-road performance, with an aspect ratio of no less than 60. If you’re not familiar with the road conditions or your vehicle, it’s best to hire a car up the mountain once you get to the base. When hiring, try to choose a local driver’s car, and ensure all procedures are complete and insurance is purchased.
Many Forks in the Road, Easy to Take a Wrong Turn
When encountering forks, follow the principle of “take the main road, go upwards.” There are several forks that are particularly easy to get wrong: starting from Tongzilin Bridge toward the Brick Factory intersection as the origin, at about the 2 km mark the fork should go right; at about the 7.7 km mark, among two left turns about 15 meters apart, take the second left; at about the 9.5 km mark, the fork should turn right and go upward. Going further, as long as you don’t drive onto overgrown mining roads and stick to the main road upward, it’s not easy to get lost.
Lots of Black Ice in Winter, Control Your Speed
Due to complex road conditions, vehicles are prone to breakdowns or accidents. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before setting off, and in winter, bring tools such as snow chains and shovels. Usually from December onward, black ice forms on the roads up the mountain. When encountering uphill sections or narrow roads, you can use a shovel to break the ice or dig grooves. While driving, always control your speed and stay alert to the vehicle’s condition. If the vehicle goes out of control, never slam on the brakes—hold the steering wheel firmly, use the terrain, and shift to a lower gear to respond calmly.