Chinese neighbours trapped in mountains ignore rescue calls over spiritual fears

In Beijing's Huairou district, two elderly residents found themselves trapped in the mountains, choosing to ignore rescue efforts due to a deeply held superstition. The older man, aged 73, and the woman, 58, were reported missing while foraging for herbs on July 29. Both had hearing impairments and lacked mobile phones, given the area's poor cellular coverage. They also had no provisions, facing exhaustion after enduring the treacherous terrain for nearly 30 hours before being discovered by rescue teams.

Despite hearing the rescuers' calls, the pair decided against responding, adhering to a belief that answering such calls would bring misfortune. In Chinese folklore, demons in the mountains are said to mimic familiar voices, luring lost individuals into danger. Similarly, wandering spirits are feared to possess those who answer their calls.

This superstition also warned against responding to names being called while walking alone at night. The elderly couple adhered to these beliefs so strictly that they even walked away from the rescue team's calls, missing several chances for rescue.

The search became increasingly difficult due to the challenging terrain and slippery paths. It wasn't until the rescue teams reached the back of the mountain that the pair finally responded. Social media reactions varied, with some expressing empathy for the 17-hour ordeal, while others found humor in the situation, having experienced similar fears themselves.

Despite the humor and empathy, the Huairou firefighters emphasized the dangers of such superstitions. They advised caution against venturing into wilderness alone and urged anyone facing danger to disregard superstitious beliefs and seek help immediately.