WATCH: Three US Tourists Rescued From Great Wall During Storm

原创 Charles L. theBeijinger

Three US tourists who got lost in the vicinity of the Great Wall of China had to be rescued after a heavy rainstorm trapped them on top of a mountain last Saturday.

Under dark and rainy conditions, firefighters and soldiers were called in to find the stranded Americans, each one of Chinese descent, who used their phones to call and post videos to direct rescuers to their location in the Mutianyu area of Huairou, Beijing.

Discovered to be unhurt, the US tourists descended the mountain by themselves after they were shown the proper path.

However, the work was not over. Over the course of the rescue operation, rescuers surprisingly discovered eight Chinese tourists whom they had not been aware of. Comprised of four women and four children under the age of three, the Chinese tourists had also gotten lost and trapped by the rainstorm. In a descent that took 40 minutes, the rescuers carried the children on their backs and led them to safety.

READ: Beijing School Strands 150 Students in Mountains During Hiking Trip, Refuses to Call Police

It is unclear whether the tourists were hiking, or got lost while taking a detour from the world famous landmark. Although the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China has been well-developed to accommodate tourists, some parts of the UNESCO-protected landmark have been less-preserved such as the Jiankou section of the wall north of Beijing, itself targeted for future repairs.

Despite a happy ending in which everyone was safe and sound, some Chinese netizens have reacted negatively to this news. "If it were just a (group of) Category-4 Han Chinese, would anyone search for them during a rainstorm?" read one top-rated comment that accused rescuers of showing a bias towards the people they rescue. "No wonder people want to emigrate to a foreign country now."

As beautiful as the surrounding environment is, a number of people have gotten lost in the area around the Great Wall. In February of 2017, a French and German hiker had to be rescued by firefighers after they got lost in the Jiankou section of the wall.

READ: Safety First: How to Stay Safe on Your Next Beijing Hike

Experts say people who most often find themselves in trouble when hiking are either unprepared for the weather or choose a route that is simply too challenging. Hikers are recommended to wear proper footgear and pack ample supplies of food, water, and a fully-charged cellphone before setting out.

Images: NetEase (bj.news.163.com), Sogou.com

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