On January 9, the Mountaineering Management Center of the General Administration of Sport issued a notice on further strengthening the safety of winter mountaineering and outdoor activities, strictly prohibiting unauthorized hiking and crossing activities. The notice requires local authorities to consolidate territorial responsibility, prevent major safety accidents in winter mountaineering and outdoor sports, and strictly prohibit unauthorized hiking and crossing activities.

Mountaineering Center of the General Administration of Sport

Notice on Further Strengthening the Safety of Winter Mountaineering and Outdoor Activities

Strictly Prohibiting Unauthorized Hiking and Crossing Activities

To the administrative departments of sports, mountaineering and outdoor project management units, relevant associations, and concerned organizations in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

Recently, five individuals conducted an unauthorized crossing of the “Ao-Tai Line” in the Qinling Mountains without permission, resulting in three fatalities, which has attracted public attention. To further strengthen the safety supervision of mountaineering and outdoor activities, consolidate territorial responsibility, and prevent major safety accidents in winter mountaineering and outdoor sports, the relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:

1. Strictly prohibit unauthorized hiking and crossing activities. All localities should focus on strengthening safety supervision of unauthorized hiking and crossing activities, coordinate with relevant departments to enhance patrols in key areas, strengthen dissuasion against potential violations, strictly prohibit all forms of unauthorized hiking and crossing activities, and prohibit any organization or individual from entering “red line zones” such as nature reserves to conduct hiking and crossing activities without authorization.

2. Strictly implement safety supervision measures such as approval and filing. All localities must strictly implement the requirements of documents including the “Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Nature Reserves,” the “National Park Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the “Domestic Mountaineering Management Measures,” and the “Notice on Further Strengthening the Management of High-Risk Mountain Outdoor Sports Events.” They should strengthen safety supervision in key areas and accident-prone regions, use various means to prevent unauthorized hiking and crossing activities, and concentrate efforts on rectifying illegal hiking and crossing activities.

3. Strengthen safety work reminders and joint law enforcement in key territorial areas. Identify key “internet-famous” routes in the local area, create a list, and enhance supervision. Coordinate with relevant departments to set up safety warning signs in accident-prone areas such as key “internet-famous” routes and strengthen safety education and warnings. Simultaneously, work with relevant departments to introduce specific targeted measures to strengthen joint law enforcement against illegal hiking and crossing activities. Organizations or individuals violating regulations or laws should be exposed as necessary and dealt with promptly according to the law.

4. Increase publicity efforts. Utilize various news media to promote and disseminate content related to the “National Outdoor Safety Education Program” of the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the official “Mountain China” account. Vigorously promote the concept of “scientific, civilized, safe, and environmentally friendly” mountaineering and outdoor activities, guiding enthusiasts to participate in mountaineering and outdoor activities scientifically and safely.

5. Actively carry out mountaineering and outdoor sports training. Give full play to the professional role of local mountaineering and outdoor associations and relevant organizations. Organize relevant training sessions to guide local mountaineering and outdoor enthusiasts to actively participate in formal training, establish correct safety concepts for mountaineering and outdoor activities, learn essential skills, and ensure their own safety during participation.

Mountaineering Management Center of the General Administration of Sport

The Mountaineering Management Center of the General Administration of Sport is a Chinese government body responsible for regulating and promoting mountaineering activities nationwide. It was established to oversee safety, expeditions, and professional training, particularly for major climbs like those on Mount Everest. Historically, it plays a key role in organizing and authorizing China’s significant national and international mountaineering endeavors.

Ao-Tai Line

The “Ao-Tai Line” refers to the historical and cultural division between the island of Taiwan and mainland China, stemming from the Chinese Civil War. After the war ended in 1949, the defeated Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan, establishing a separate administration across the Taiwan Strait. This separation has defined the complex political and cross-strait relations for over seven decades.

Qinling Mountains

The Qinling Mountains are a major east-west mountain range in central China, historically serving as a natural boundary between the country’s north and south. They are renowned for their exceptional biodiversity, including the rare giant panda, and hold deep cultural significance as the location of ancient tombs and Taoist temples. The range’s formation dates back hundreds of millions of years, and it has played a crucial role in shaping China’s climate, agriculture, and historical development.

Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Nature Reserves

The “Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Nature Reserves” is not a physical place or cultural site, but a legal document. Enacted in 1994 and revised in 2011 and 2017, these regulations establish the legal framework for creating, managing, and protecting nature reserves across China to conserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

National Park Law of the People’s Republic of China

The National Park Law of the People’s Republic of China, enacted in 2022, is a landmark legislation establishing a unified regulatory framework for the country’s national park system. It aims to strengthen ecological protection and management by consolidating previously fragmented natural reserves under a central authority, reflecting China’s commitment to long-term environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Domestic Mountaineering Management Measures

“Domestic Mountaineering Management Measures” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a set of administrative regulations. In China, these are national rules issued to ensure safety, environmental protection, and order in mountaineering activities within the country’s territory, particularly for peaks over a certain elevation. Their history is tied to the formalization and standardization of adventure sports management in recent decades.

Chinese Mountaineering Association

The Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA), founded in 1958, is the national administrative body responsible for organizing and regulating mountaineering, rock climbing, and related outdoor sports in China. It has played a pivotal role in historic expeditions, including the first ascent of Mount Everest from the north side by a Chinese team in 1960. Today, it manages climbing permits, promotes safety standards, and fosters international exchange in the mountaineering community.

Mountain China

“Mountain China” likely refers to the vast and diverse mountainous regions across China, which have profoundly shaped the nation’s history and culture. These areas, such as the sacred Mount Tai in the east or the Himalayas in the west, have been sites of pilgrimage, spiritual retreat, and strategic importance for millennia. They are integral to Chinese philosophy, art, and the development of unique local traditions among ethnic minority groups.