Live Your Best Lives
A recent wildfire at Shiziling, south of the Taihang Mountains in Xinxiang, Henan Province, exposed the ecological risks associated with outdoor activities. 
The fire led to a mountain closure in Huixian City, forcing the closure of several hiking trails. This moment finally dawned on us: in this age of "freedom," where people rush to the mountains to chase the wind and run wild at the slightest disagreement, the following three types of people are the most dangerous hidden dangers for outdoor activities!
Is stepping on a cigarette butt a surefire way to avoid disaster?
In February 2023, a man surnamed Liu in Wuhua County, Guangdong Province, was sentenced to two years in prison for causing a wildfire by discarding a cigarette butt. In August 2023, a hiker in Liangshan, Sichuan, who left a cigarette butt unextinguished, caused a fire and ultimately paid 870,000 yuan in compensation. In February 2024, a hiker in Sunan County, Zhangye, Gansu, entered a key state-owned forest area during a forest fire prevention period without permission. After smoking, he discarded his cigarette butt, starting a fire that burned 92.72 acres.
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People, assuming that "a small cigarette butt won't cause any harm," "a small fire is controllable," or "stepping on it will solve the problem, 
" disregard forest fire prevention regulations. Each fire causes irreversible ecological damage, accelerating the entropy increase and collapse of the ecosystem. Cases of arson far extend beyond smoking. A couple setting off fireworks at Queya Mountain in Heyuan, Guangdong, sparked a wildfire, and tourists illegally used stoves to ignite vegetation at Cangshan Mountain in Dali, Yunnan...
These cases reveal that individual fire-setting has evolved from an act of ignorance to a violation of natural laws.
Why are accidents so frequent, yet so persistent?
Any discussion of the Aotai Line is a matter of life and death. A blogger known in outdoor circles as "Mengshe Guojiang" has repeatedly found bodies along the Aotai Line and other outdoor locations. These routes, considered a forbidden zone by a minority of outdoor enthusiasts and a challenge for themselves, are constantly being banned.
The Aotai Line (a ridgeline connecting Aoshan Mountain in the Qinling Mountains with Taibai Mountain) has been officially banned since 2018, nicknamed the "Death Route" due to its high risk and unpredictable weather. Yet why are accidents so frequent and so persistent? 
This "lone ranger" mentality is essentially the result of an overabundance of individual heroism, viewing trekking as a symbol of "conquering nature," the allure of the short video traffic economy, and even the flaunting of success stories as social capital, ultimately placing the cost on society for these risky behaviors.
Some organizations are also irresponsible, downplaying the risks by claiming the route is "safe" and "rescue teams are on hand." Survivor bias also exists, magnifying success stories and attributing tragedies to "individual error," leading to more people blindly following suit. 
Solo adventures and disregard for safety regulations have repeatedly led to tragedies, endangering not only individual lives but also draining significant public rescue resources.
In February 2024, a 23-year-old female college student surnamed Chen climbed Mount Emei alone at night, failing to comply with the scenic area's nighttime regulations. She was subsequently confirmed dead 46 days after she went missing. In June of the same year, a 40-year-old man from Mentougou, Beijing, soloed the ridgeline from Tietuo Mountain to Shuiyu Dongdajian. Despite heavy rain and lightning warnings, he continued his ascent and ultimately fell to his death. In October of the same year, a 22-year-old man from Nanning, Guangxi, accidentally fell to his death while attempting to hike alone to the popular hiking spot of Nanning Dasheng Mountain.
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Everyone has the right to explore the unknown, but everyone also needs to abide by laws and regulations—that's their obligation! Don't let society bear the cost of risky behavior.
"Scientific exploration, passion for the outdoors" has always been the motto of the tourist style. Rules aren't constraints, they're protection. Don't mistake breaking them for being "cool"!
How long does it take for a banana peel to naturally degrade?
Mount Siguniang, a popular outdoor tourist destination, has faced recent challenges with waste pollution, particularly at high altitudes, due to the accumulation of difficult-to-degrade waste such as plastic packaging and oxygen tanks. The Xiaojin County Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team has been actively cleaning up trash on cliffs and in glaciers, clearing over 2 tons in 2024. The 2024 cleanup operation in the Mount Everest region removed 11 tons of trash, bringing the total to approximately 120 tons in recent years. In the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, enough plastic waste is removed annually 
to fill 50 standard football fields. Along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, plastic waste belts stretch up to 200 meters long and about 20 meters wide, some broken down into microplastics. People often claim, "My trash is fine," or "My fruit peels and paper towels will degrade naturally." However, they often fail to recognize that the degradation of banana peels can take months or even years, not to mention plastic products. Failure to manage one's own hands and individual misconduct can lead to a "broken windows effect" that can erode public consciousness. Since the beginning of this year, China-TravelNote has launched an outdoor LNT training program for all employees. When exercising outdoors, we must pay attention to and take practical action to protect and preserve the local ecological environment. This is not just a slogan, but countless subtle behavioral norms for people in the mountains. The mountains never show mercy to arrogance!
1. Legal Fire Use: Before using a fire outdoors, check local fire regulations to ensure it's legal. Reduce the risk of fire by using alternative methods to building a fire outdoors; for example, bring plenty of warm clothing, lighting equipment like a headlamp, and using a stove for cooking.
2. Safe Fire Use: If you need to build a fire, choose a suitable location, such as an existing firepit or a rocky area. Assess wind direction and keep the area clear to ensure safe use. Use fallen, dead, or small wood to ensure a thorough burn. Keep someone watching over the fire to ensure it remains under control.
3. Fire Extinguishment and Cleanup: When leaving a firepit, ensure it is completely extinguished to avoid potential fire hazards. Soak ashes with water and allow them to cool completely before removing them. Spread the ashes on the ground nearby. Restore the campfire to its original appearance. If you find someone else leaving a fire source (an unextinguished cigarette butt), first extinguish it with water and use a hiking pole to lift up dirt to cover the flames; if you find someone else using fire illegally and the fire is spreading, immediately call the forest fire alarm at 12119 and report the location accurately.
1. Reduce: Unwrap food packaging before traveling and replace single-use plastics with silicone bags, beeswax cloths, and other materials.
2. Sorting: Carry a "three-bag system"—a degradable food bag, a recyclable bag, and a bag for other garbage. In high-altitude areas like Mount Siguniang, carry food waste down the mountain to avoid attracting wildlife.
3. The 120% Rule: In addition to taking your own trash with you, pick up as much trash as possible along the way.
If you encounter special circumstances, such as in cold and high-altitude areas, place easily frozen wet garbage (such as fruit peels) in sealed bags to prevent them from breaking and contaminating the environment due to low temperatures. In extreme environments, if extreme weather makes it impossible to carry all your garbage, at least seal and bring back non-degradable items (such as batteries and plastics).
① Travel in a group or follow the "four-person group" rule; never hike alone outdoors.
② Fully understand the route's difficulty and your own abilities; avoid routes beyond your capabilities.
③ Prepare thoroughly before your trip. Fully understand local laws and regulations, weather conditions, and equip yourself with the necessary equipment and physical fitness, as well as emergency plans.
④ In the event of an emergency, have the courage to give up. "Since you're already here," giving up will only harm yourself and others.
① Arson: According to Article 115 of the Criminal Law, negligently causing a major wildfire is punishable by 3-7 years in prison.
② Illegal logging: Illegal collection of rare plants (such as snow lotus) may violate Article 344 of the Criminal Law and carry a sentence of up to 7 years.
③ Environmental pollution: Disposing of toxic waste (such as lithium batteries) near drinking water sources is criminally liable under Article 338 of the Criminal Law.
When fireworks from the Southern Taihang Mountains illuminate the night sky, when acres of forest are burned, and when piles of garbage swarm the glaciers, this isn't human revelry; it's sorrow!
In the foreseeable future, these three types of ecological "terrorists" won't disappear. All we can do is advocate for the true spirit of the outdoors and lead by example in practicing the LNT principles to reduce their impact.
The true spirit of the outdoors is a love of exploration and, even more importantly, a respect for nature. We shouldn't be complicit in evil, but rather, we should strive to be defenders of the mountains and wilderness. Every inch of land we step on bears the weight of our children and grandchildren's future.
