Focus
Dangerous hiking locations in Beijing and safety tips
By Wang Wen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-09 11:24
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A total of five people died while hiking in the mountains around Beijing in 2009, according to a report released by the Chinese Mountaineering Association.
Zhang Yong, leader of the Lantian rescue team in Beijing, had some tips for hikers to keep safe:
Good preparation is crucial. There are three things necessary for hiking in winter: a headlamp or flashlight with fully charged batteries, a down jacket and matches, a lighter or other equipment that can help make a fire in an emergency.
People should choose routes according to their capabilities.
Learn some survival skills from books, websites or professionals.
Read a weather forecast before departure. It is better to not go after snowfall.
The most dangerous places to hike in Beijing:
Phoenix Mountain
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 Hikers tackle Phoenix Moutain in suburban Beijing.
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Located in the northwest part of Beijing's Haidian District, 51 km from downtown, this place has hikers falling off cliffs almost every year. Zhang said the stones on the mountain are seriously weathered and easily crumble.
"Accidents in the mountain can be life threatening," Zhang said.
Phoenix Mountain is easy to climb and close to the city, making it popular. But the ease of the trip can make hikers lower their guard, according to Zhang.
Two people died hiking this mountain in 2009. One of them, Zhou Yuanchen, a 46-year-old man fell and died on the mountain while climbing it alone on Jan 29 last year, according to the Beijing Evening News. The Chinese Mountaineering Association analyzed the case (and others) in a report released in January 2010 and said the main reason for the accident was a lack of risk awareness.
Lingshan Mountain
Located in Mentougou district, 122 km from downtown Beijing, Lingshan has Beijing's highest peak, which is 2,303 m tall. There have been more accidents on Lingshan than on any other mountain in Beijing.
People often get lost on Lingshan, Zhang said. He said hikers in Beijing are drawn to Lingshan because it is the highest peak.
There are many hiking routes in the mountain and most of them are long and difficult. Zhang said there were three reasons for accidents on Lingshan: sudden changes of weather, unfamiliarity with routes on the mountain and many hikers' tendency to overestimate their physical capabilities.
The mountain is cold and is often covered in snow in winter because of its altitude, making trails difficult to follow. Climbing Lingshan requires a high level of fitness.
Three hikers got lost on Lingshan on Dec 19, the Chinese Mountaineering Association report said. They spent the whole night on the mountain, with the temperature minus 20 C and were found by a rescue team the next morning. They were unfamiliar with the routes on Lingshan and took a wrong turn. They underestimated the difficulty of the hike and became too exhausted to hike back the way they came.
Haituo Mountain
The mountain is on the border of Beijing and Hebei province, 130 km from downtown Beijing. The main peak, which is 2,241 m, is the second highest in Beijing. The routes on Haituo are long and the weather is variable.
The average temperature on Haituo Mountain is 13 C lower than that of Beijing. Snow sometimes stays on the peak from October to June. Many people go to see the beautiful snow-covered landscape, but hiking in the snow can be dangerous.
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Zhang's rescue team received only one call for help from Haituo in 2009. On Nov 14, six male travelers went to enjoy the snow but got lost on the mountain, becoming further disoriented as darkness fell and cold weather set in. They were rescued during the night by the rescue team and local staff working on the mountain.
Yunmeng Mountain
This mountain is on the border of Miyun county and Huairou county, 80 km from the city center. The main peak is 1,414 m high. There are many routes to climb, but some are difficult to distinguish. The mountain is beautiful in summer with thick forest cover and flowers blooming. However, the mountain is also more dangerous in summer because the trails are often covered by moss and slippery.
"But because of the complex routes, few people go hiking on Yunmeng and we rarely received calls for help from there in 2009," said Zhang.
