Spent ¥400,000 to Rescue Four Lives: The Only Survivor of the Ao-Tai Route Hallucinates—Burned His Underwear, Yet Avoided Amputation

Recently, five hikers illegally attempted to traverse the Ao-Tai Route—often called the “Chinese Dragon’s Ridge.” The trek ended in tragedy: three people died, one turned back early, and only one was rescued.

On the night of January 1, the group avoided official management checkpoints and entered the route’s core restricted area. They had planned a one-day “fast traverse,” so they packed light—bringing no tent or sleeping bag, and carrying very limited food and cold-weather protection.

In the early hours of January 3, one woman descended the mountain alone ahead of the others. The remaining four continued forward and soon ran into a brutal blizzard with temperatures plunging to around -30°C. Winds reportedly reached force 10, snow piled above the knees, and conditions rapidly became extreme. Not long after, the four lost contact.

Rescue teams were dispatched immediately. On January 4, they found one male hiker inside a makeshift shelter built by an herbal forager. When discovered, he was curled up inside and suffering from severe hypothermia, to the point of experiencing hallucinations—believing he was eating at home, treating rocks as a dining table, lighting a fire and burning his underwear, and even removing his shoes.

Rescuers acted quickly to warm him and stabilize his condition. They also denied online rumors that he had undergone amputation, explaining that his legs were not injured—he had simply become numb from the cold, and they provided necessary dressing and care. The claim of amputation, they said, was false.

The other three hikers did not survive. Two reportedly died from hypothermia, while one died after falling from a cliff. The rescue operation lasted five days and cost more than ¥400,000.