The Aotai Line: Trekking the Dragon’s Spine
The Aotai Line spans approximately 150 to 170 km at an average altitude of 3,500 meters. It serves as the natural boundary between Northern and Southern China. The geography is so unique that you can stand on a ridge and see clear blue skies to the north while being swallowed by thick, wet mist from the south.
The Deadly Statistics
Since the turn of the 21st century, at least 60 people have gone missing or died on this trail. Between 2012 and 2017 alone, 46 trekkers perished. The danger is so high that the Shaanxi government officially banned the trek in 2018, yet its mystery continues to draw "illegal" hikers.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Terrain | "Stone Seas" (glacial rock fields), vertical cliffs, and dense forests. |
| Weather | "Four seasons in one day." Temperatures can drop to -20°C in minutes. |
| Communication | Zero signal. No supplies. Complete isolation. |
Recent Mysteries: The Yellow Tent ⛺
In August 2024, a cycling blogger known as "Viper Crossing the River" discovered a dusty yellow tent in the woods. Inside lay the remains of a 25-year-old hiker, Ma, who had been missing since July.
The mystery intensified when another hiker claimed they saw the tent on August 7th with the door tightly zipped. By the time the blogger found it on August 12th, the door was open. This implies that someone else stumbled upon the scene, opened the tent, saw the tragedy, and left without reporting it—swallowed by the same fear that permeates the mountain.
Survival and Hallucinations: A 40-Hour Nightmare
The blogger "Viper" recalled a previous winter trek in 2019 that nearly cost him his life. Attempting a 40-hour non-stop crossing without a sleeping bag, he experienced the terrifying phenomenon of high-altitude hallucinations:
- The Phantom Trekker: He followed a "foreign female climber" for miles, only to realize she never existed when the path led to a dead end.
- The Stone Players: In the middle of the "Nine-Story Stone Sea" (a treacherous glacial rock field), he saw villagers playing cards behind rocks. When he approached for water, they vanished—leaving only jagged stones.
The Spiritual Guardians of the Peak
Local residents, like the famous "Scholar Chen" of Tangkou Village, treat the mountain with immense spiritual respect. They believe the mountain is alive, guarded by eight distinct deities, including the Taoist "Taibai Jinxing" and the Tang Dynasty poet Han Yu.
The "Lucky King" vs. The Professional
The mountain’s mercy seems arbitrary. In 2025, a 19-year-old "newbie" named Dashan crossed the line wearing cheap sneakers and carrying a casual backpack. He survived extreme fog and even "slid" down the snowy peaks like a playground slide.
In contrast, Lao Wu, an experienced runner, perished in 2021. After an injury forced him to wait for rescue, a sudden "once-in-40-years" flood and cold snap trapped him. He was found having undergone "paradoxical undressing"—a final sign of extreme hypothermia.
The Science of the "Stone Seas"
The most difficult sections of the Aotai Line are the Stone Seas (Shihai). These are not man-made; they are products of the Quaternary Glaciation. The extreme temperature swings cause water in rock crevices to freeze and expand, shattering giant boulders into a chaotic, unstable landscape.
Aotai Line Route Highlights
- Navigational Trestle: A mysterious rotting wooden structure marking the start of the ridge.
- Yaowang Temple: A pile of stones dedicated to Sun Simiao, the King of Medicine.
- Baxiantai (Eight Immortals Table): The highest point (3,771m), legendary site of an ancient deification ceremony.
The Aotai Line remains a powerful reminder of nature's indifference to human ambition. As one survivor put it: "You don't conquer the mountain; the mountain simply chooses to let you pass."