During the New Year's Day period of 2026 (from the evening of January 1 to the early morning of January 2), five out-of-town hikers (4 men and 1 woman, aged 19-32) illegally bypassed the management station and entered the Qinling Mountains' 'Xiao Ao Tai Line' (a shortened version of the Ao Tai Line, approximately 40 kilometers long) near Huangbaiyuan Town, Taibai County, Shaanxi Province. They planned a one-day rapid crossing, traveling light without carrying overnight gear such as tents or sleeping bags, and had insufficient food and warmth.

Three hikers died, two of whom were frozen into ice sculptures, and one fell off a cliff. The main causes of death were related to extreme winter weather: heavy snow and wind on the mountain, low visibility, and sudden temperature drops (nighttime temperatures could reach -20°C to -40°C), leading to hypothermia and getting lost or falling off cliffs.

Two hikers survived: one managed to descend the mountain on their own without issues, while the other hid in a shepherd's shelter and waited for the rescue team, but later faced the risk of amputation due to frostbite.

The white ridge in the upper left corner of the image is the legendary Ao Tai Line.

Respect nature—life is only once.