On the evening of 2/1, over 700 tourists found themselves stranded for hours at a shuttle bus pickup point on Mount Taibai, located within Mount Taibai National Park in Shaanxi province, China. Heavy snowfall had rendered the roads slippery, severely restricting vehicle movement. The adverse weather forced many visitors to queue in temperatures plummeting to -10 degrees Celsius. Some opted to descend the mountain on foot for several kilometers in the dark.
According to authorities from Mi County, Baoji city, snowfall commenced around 16:00 on the same day in the high-altitude region, leading to localized icing on roads within the scenic area. These challenging conditions compelled shuttle buses to reduce their operational frequency for safety, resulting in a backlog of tourists at the mountaintop.
A representative from the county government stated that by approximately 20:00 on 2/1, over 700 stranded tourists had boarded buses and were transported down the mountain. All visitors were safely evacuated from the hazardous area before 22:00, with no reported cases requiring medical assistance.
On Chinese social media platforms, numerous individuals shared images of long queues amidst low temperatures and heavy snow. Some visitors reported waiting for several hours before it was their turn to board a rescue vehicle. There were also complaints regarding the lack of timely weather warnings and coordination plans, which caused anxiety as darkness fell and temperatures continued to plummet.
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Unexpected heavy snowfall stranded hundreds on Mount Taibai. *Photo: QQ* |
Following the incident, the Mount Taibai National Park Management Board, in cooperation with local authorities, augmented shuttle transport, deployed support personnel, and implemented anti-slip measures on the roads leading down the mountain. The tourist area also announced a temporary closure for 3/1 to address the aftermath and reassess safety levels.
Mi County authorities stated they would require the scenic area to review and refine its emergency response plans, particularly for extreme winter weather conditions, to prevent a recurrence of tourists becoming stranded in high-altitude areas.
Mount Taibai, the highest peak of the Qinling mountain range, stands at approximately 3,760 meters above sea level. It is considered a natural boundary between North China and South China. The area attracts many tourists in winter due to its snow-covered landscapes but poses risks due to rapidly changing weather and rugged terrain.
Mai Phuong (According to Sina, Sohu)
