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Recently, Ailao Mountain suddenly became popular.
Perhaps the seeds of preheating have already been planted for "Ghost Blows Out the Light: Yunnan Worm Valley", and coupled with the recent videos of people entering the mountain posted by some self-media bloggers, the foggy scenes and the oppressive music have added a touch of mystery to the mountain.
Source @Yunnan Ailao Mountain Wonderland
There was a lot of discussion about the fame.
Some people joked that "Ailao Mountain doesn't need any publicity, I will go there naturally if I want to die", and regarded it as a forbidden zone of death.
Some people defied the official media's notice banning entry into the depths of Ailao Mountain and commented that life is about adventure.
Some people also called on everyone to protect the ecology, leave a quiet corner on the earth, and have awe for nature.
Apart from these, the busiest people are the local people of Yunnan. After teaching everyone how to identify mushrooms, they have to persuade tourists not to enter the core area of Ailao Mountain.
After all, is it possible to go to Ailao Mountain?
Before answering this question, let us unveil the mystery of this mountain.
Ailao Mountain Range, Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve and Ailao Mountain Scenic Area are three concepts that are both related and different.
The Ailao Mountains encompass the Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve and scenic area. The Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve is divided into a core area, a buffer zone, and a pilot area. The core area is off-limits to tourists, the buffer zone is for scientific observation only, and only the scenic areas within the pilot area, which are open to the public, are safe for tourism.
The Ailao Mountains are located in the comprehensive area of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the Hengduan Mountains and the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It starts from Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan in the north and reaches Luchun County in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the south. It is about 400 kilometers long and has 9 peaks with an altitude of more than 3,000 meters.
The Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve, located in the central and northern parts of the Ailao Mountains, is a typical distribution area of Yunnan Province's mid-mountain moist evergreen broad-leaved forest. The "wet" here is well-deserved, as the Ailao Mountain region is prone to rainfall, with the most frequent downpours not violent storms but misty rain that can last for weeks at a time.
Such a humid climate makes the Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve a paradise for animals and plants. Trees cover the sky, vines and mosses are lush, and rare and endangered animals such as the western black-crested gibbon live and reproduce here.
Western black-crested gibbon (
Photo source: Xinping Management Bureau, Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province)
But for humans, the environment here is very dangerous.
First, the complex geographical environment is like a maze. The peaks of the Ailao Mountains are so similar that they are difficult to distinguish. The primeval forest is dense and deep, with dense arrow bamboos, making it difficult to advance without cutting down trees. There are also cliffs, gullies, streams, and muddy areas where fallen leaves and rotting mud accumulate.
Image source: @Tourism Xinping Official Account
As we all know, airtight housing for extended periods of time increases the risk of viruses and carbon dioxide levels. The much-publicized "miasma" in Ailao Mountain has a similar cause. Low-lying areas in dense forests sluggishly circulate air, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide at night. The accumulation of dead plants and animals also produces a deadly, toxic gas.
Secondly, the Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve is home to numerous ferocious animals and venomous insects. It's home to large beasts like black bears, wild boars, and clouded leopards, as well as venomous snakes, leeches, wild bees, and mosquitoes. If bitten or infected, the journey can be challenging and there's a high risk of death due to the rough terrain and a lack of timely medical attention.
Image source: Chuxiong Management Bureau of Yunnan Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve
Furthermore, there are a large number of basalts in the Ailao Mountains, which will interfere with the earth's magnetic field and cause the compass to malfunction. This is normal and there is no need to mystify this phenomenon.
Finally, the greatest danger in the Ailao Mountains Nature Reserve, and one that's often overlooked, is the cold. The Ailao Mountains have a highly variable climate, with large temperature swings between day and night. Fog can arrive suddenly, leaving everything wet and difficult to start a fire. Rain only makes matters worse.
Image source: @Tourism Xinping Official Account
On November 13, 2021, four geological survey workers, who had entered the depths of the Ailao Mountains for their investigation, lost contact that day. They were in their prime, the oldest 32 and the youngest 25, and all had served in the military and possessed some wilderness survival skills.
After receiving the missing information, the number of rescuers on the scene reached more than 8,000. They used thermal imaging drones, helicopters and search and rescue dogs to cooperate with manual search and rescue. Even so, due to the extremely dense forest and special terrain, the rescue mission lasted 9 days and 8 nights.
Image source: Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Bureau
The four geologists were found dead. They lay on the ground, their clothes pulled up, smiling—typical symptoms of hypothermia. Later, forensic examinations confirmed they had died of cardiogenic shock caused by hypothermia.
According to the reconstruction and analysis of the accident scene, the victims had built a temporary shack and made a fire to keep warm, but from the second day after they entered the mountain, it began to rain moderately and even heavily, and the temperature dropped sharply. They got lost in the fog and magnetic field interference, deviated from the preset investigation direction, exhausted too much physical energy, and finally died of hypothermia.
What is regrettable is that the four investigators carried RTK positioning equipment, but this equipment was never used, and they did not send any information to the outside world until their death.
Image source: @Tourism Xinping Official Account
We have to admit that even in the 21st century, humanity's current understanding of nature is still only a fraction of what it was before. Deep in the Ailao Mountains, all existing experience pales in comparison.
So, is it still possible to go to Ailao Mountain?
In fact, in addition to the core area and buffer zone of the nature reserve deep in the Ailao Mountains, there are already some developed scenic spots on the edge, mostly distributed along National Highway 323, such as Nan'en Waterfall, Shimen Gorge, and Jinshan Primeval Forest. They have relatively complete basic supporting facilities, so you can travel with confidence.
If you are really interested in Ailao Mountain, it is enough to go to the open scenic area to see the beautiful mountains and waters.
The Ailao Mountain traffic jam video that went viral during this National Day holiday happened around Nan'en Waterfall. According to enthusiastic netizens, this place was a tourist attraction more than ten years ago, and traffic jams are normal every holiday.
Nan'en Waterfall is very spectacular. Its widest point is more than 10 meters, and the drop is more than 100 meters. When you get close to it, although it is not in Jiangxi, you can still see the "Milky Way falling from the sky".
Image source: Yuxi Culture and Tourism Official Account
In the Jinshan primeval forest, you'll experience the humid climate of the Ailao Mountains. Here, you'll find a well-preserved subtropical mid-mountain moist evergreen broad-leaved forest ecosystem, where all plants are well-watered. Ancient trees, vines, mosses, and various ferns flourish with lush greenery and vitality.
This is also a passage for migratory birds. Every autumn, hundreds of migratory birds fly over the forest, year after year, conveying the mystery of nature's endless vitality.
Image source: @Tourism Xinping Official Account
The ancient Tea-Horse Road, a crucial trade route connecting the Central Plains with the northwest and southwest, also passed through the Ailao Mountains. This section of the road is paved almost entirely with stone slabs, and along the way, there are sites such as "Horses Trampling Stone," "Qianjiazhai," and "Iron Smelting Furnace."
Those places that were once used as resting places for horse caravans and passers-by have collapsed and dilapidated. The stone tablets and bamboo bridges that have been washed away by wind and rain over the years have a strong sense of age. Walking on this road, accompanied by green mountains and beautiful waters, one can imagine the glory of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road at that time.
Image source: Yuxi Culture and Tourism Official Account
There is a saying in Yunnan that “If you don’t visit Shimen Gorge, you have wasted your trip to Ailao Mountain”. The canyon is surrounded by cliffs on both sides, as if the hand of nature built a series of stone gates, with rushing waterfalls and clear mountain streams rushing through them.
The trail is also very exquisitely designed. It is about a four or five kilometer hike, passing through stone caves and crossing small bridges. There is a new scene at every step. The green vines, old trees and strange rocks complement each other. The air is fresh and moist. It is a good place to relax.
Image source: Yuxi Culture and Tourism Official Account
The Huayao Dai are a branch of the Dai ethnic group. Xinping County, located near the Ailao Mountains, is the largest settlement of Huayao Dai in China. It is said that they are descendants of the ancient Dian Kingdom.
The clothing of the Huayao Dai people is praised as "art worn on the body and history written on the body". They weave and dye the fabrics themselves and make the clothes. The brocade belts and silver ornaments layered around the waists of the women are especially beautiful, as bright and lively as a rainbow after rain.
Image source: @Tourism Xinping Official Account
When you come to Xinping County, don't miss the small town of Gasa. The Huayao Dai people here still retain many traditional customs, such as dyeing teeth with indigo, cocksfoot vine and other materials for tattoos, and performing special dances such as the cat dance, reed pipe dance, and lion dance.
They also have a most classic festival - Flower Street, which is held in the first and fifth months of the lunar calendar and is known as the "mysterious Oriental Valentine's Day". Young girls and boys walk on the street to meet each other and fall in love freely.
The Hani Rice Terraces in Honghe Prefecture, located on the southern foot of the Ailao Mountains, have a history of more than 1,300 years. They are a unique landscape created by the hard work and wisdom of the Hani, Yi, Miao and other ethnic groups who have lived here for generations.
From November to April of the following year, it is the flood season for the Hani Terraces, and also the best viewing period. Everywhere you look, you can see sparkling waters, green mountains and beautiful waters.
As mentioned above, the depths of Ailao Mountain are fraught with danger, so don't take any chances! Do not enter any unopened areas other than the developed Ailao Mountain Scenic Area.
On October 6, the Chuxiong Management Bureau of the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve issued a "Notice to Visitors to the Chuxiong Prefecture Area of the Yunnan Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve" and a "Notice on the Prohibition of Entering the Nature Reserve to Conduct All Kinds of Unauthorized Human Activities." These notices clearly state:
Any unit or individual is strictly prohibited from entering the Chuxiong Prefecture area of the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve without authorization. No visiting or tourism activities are being carried out in the Chuxiong Prefecture area. It is strictly prohibited to enter without authorization to carry out various hiking, trekking, crossing, camping and other activities.
This time, I really need to listen to advice!
First, comply with local regulations. Second, be responsible for yourself and always put your own safety first! Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it will take up a lot of public resources. Besides, the lives of search and rescue personnel are also lives.
References:
CCTV News: "What's the story behind the explosively popular Ailao Mountain?"
Sanlian Life Weekly: "Can you visit the Ailao Mountain, the most searched mysterious "forbidden land"? "
Ailao Mountain Nature Reserve, Chuxiong Management Bureau: "Ten Thousand Words! People's Daily Reporter Visits the Ailao Mountain Core Area Twice, Giving You an In-Depth Look"
Yangcheng Evening News, October 10, 2024, Page A12: "Although the Forbidden Land is Beautiful, Safety First"
People's Daily, June 9, 2022, Page 015: "Exploring the Deep Mountains and Dense Forests"
Xinhua Daily Telegraph, December 3, 2021, Page 016: "What is Ailao Mountain?"
Lucheng Academic Journal, Vol. 35, No. 4, December 2023: Research on the Development of Huayao Dai Folk Tourism in Gasa Town, Xinping, Yunnan
China Emergency Rescue: "Some Thoughts on the Search and Rescue Operation for Missing Persons in Ailao Mountain, Yunnan"
