Chinese neighbours trapped in mountains ignore rescue calls over spiritual fears

Two individuals in Beijing found themselves trapped in a mountain but refused rescue due to a superstition that responding to strangers brings bad luck.The police and firefighters in the Huairou district received a call on the evening of July 29, reporting that two neighbours from a nearby village had gone missing while foraging for herbs in a wild mountain area.The pair, a 73-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman, frequently foraged together. Both had hearing impairments.They did not carry mobile phones since there was no signal in the mountainous region. Rescuers were informed that they also lacked food and water.Rescue teams were quickly formed and began searching through the night. After 17 hours of effort, they successfully located the two extremely exhausted individuals, who had been trapped for nearly 30 hours.Upon discovery, the rescuers learned that the pair had heard their calls long before being found.After an extensive 17-hour search, rescuers finally located the pair, who were extremely fatigued. Photo: QQ.comHowever, they chose not to respond due to their belief in the superstition that “if you hear your name called in the mountains, do not respond, and do not express that you are thirsty or hungry.”In Chinese folklore, it is believed that demons in the mountains can mimic the voices of familiar people, calling out to the lost person.Responding to such calls is thought to lure their soul, further leading to disorientation and danger.Additionally, some believe that wandering spirits exist in the wilderness, calling out to the lost. Responding to such voices may lead to possession.Further ReadingThis superstition also extends to other situations, such as hearing one’s name called while walking down an empty street or outside one’s front door at midnight – one is advised not to respond.In the case of the trapped pair, not only did they refrain from responding to the rescuers’ calls, but they also walked in the opposite direction to distance themselves from the voices, thereby missing several opportunities for rescue.In their efforts to escape the haunting sounds, the duo walked away from rescuers, missing critical opportunities for rescue. Photo: QQ.comMoreover, the challenging terrain and slippery paths complicated the search efforts.They reportedly only responded to the rescuers when the teams reached the rear of the mountain.News of their ordeal attracted a flurry of curious comments online after being shared on social media.“From the perspective of the elderly, those 17 hours must have been quite painful. They might have thought the king of hell had sent many devils to claim their lives,” commented an online observer.“If I were lost in the mountains for more than half a day and heard people calling my name, I would be frightened too,” joked another person.“I couldn’t laugh at them, considering my dad also believes in this superstition, and I’m in Huairou,” noted a third commentator.The Huairou firefighters urged citizens to avoid venturing into wild mountains alone. They also advised that if encountering danger in the wilderness, one should not succumb to superstitious beliefs but instead call for help.