Tourist surge in ‘mysterious and primitive’ Ailao Mountains sparks safety warnings from local authorities

During the weeklong National Day holidays, the "mysterious" Ailao Mountains in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, off the beaten track, has turned into a hit attraction.

The authority responsible for the management of the site said that the safety of tourists can be ensured as long as they visit the opened areas in accordance with the requirements of the scenic spots. Unauthorized visits, however, may result in a fine of up to 5,000 yuan ($710).

Initially, the Ailao Mountains gained attention through an adventure-themed blurry and mysterious video posted by an online blogger, which contained images of sudden encounters with fog and warning signs like "bears nearby," leaving netizens with a thrilling and creepy feeling. Curious tourists then flocked to the area, leading to blocked mountain roads, CCTV news reported on Monday.

According to a video posted on Sunday by a local account of an aerial shot of the driveway up the Mountains, the highway circling the mountains was packed with small cars stuck in traffic.

The Ailao Mountains were located in the central part of Yunnan, spanning the prefecture-level cities of Chuxiong, Yuxi, and Pu'er. The Mountains were dubbed by some as "Forest of Death" due to its ravines and dense forests, and unpredictable weather, the CCTV news said. It is crowned as the largest, least disturbed, and most intact subtropical montane wet evergreen broadleaf forest ecosystem at this latitude worldwide, according to public information. Its remote location and primitive nature have bred some "mysterious stories" related to this area. 

The peripheral part of Ailao Mountains is open to travelers under administration of Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County. As long as the tourists adhere to the scenic area's regulations, their safety can be fully guaranteed, according to the local cultural and tourism department.

Over half a million tourists visit this scenic spot and its neighboring attractions every year. During the National Day holidays this year, a total of 50,000 tourists visited the site, up 15 percent year-on-year, the local cultural and tourism department said.

The deeper, inaccessible areas of the Ailao Mountains, still not open to the tourists, consist mostly of pristine forests without proper roads. These areas often face severe weather conditions, which can cause tourists to experience altitude sickness and hypothermia. The area's anomalous magnetic field can render compasses useless, heightening the risk of getting lost. 

On Sunday, the relevant departments of the scenic area issued notices clearly indicating it is strictly prohibited for any individual or group to enter the area or participate in activities like hiking, trekking, or camping without proper authorization.

Another announcement released by the local authorities also claimed that tourists who enter the nature reserve without authorization or disobey the management authorities will face penalties by management and can be fined between 100 yuan ($14) and 5,000 yuan ($710).

In November 2021, four geological surveyors sacrificed on duty after entering the hinterland of the Ailao Mountains. After forensic examination and joint on-site investigation, the main reason for the deaths of the four personnel was excessive physical exertion and the loss of body temperature caused by sudden gusts of wind and rapid drops in temperature, according to the CCTV news.