A mountain extremely popular with tourists yet notorious for its dangerous climbing conditions claimed another life this week - a university student from Shanghai who disappeared on May 5 and found dead on Monday.

The student, Hua Zhengrong, 25, went exploring on May 4 with his six school friends to Taibai Mountain, the major peak of the Qinling Mountain Range in Shaanxi Province in Northwest China.

He was reported missing on May 5 at a place on the mountain about 3,600 metres above sea level, said local police.

Around a dozen people have died climbing the mountain this year due to the precipitous peak and constantly changing climate.

"Hua was an amateur mountain climber, and he told his family by mobile phone he was safe when the students climbed on the Baxiantai, a place near the peak of Taibai Mountain," said Chen Yongbing, an official with the managing office of the Taibai Mountain Forest Park. "Later, the other students could not find Hua and quickly went down to report (he was missing)."

Immediate action was taken, as the officer informed the local government and soon more than 300 rescuers were sent to the mountain to search for Hua.

The Taibai Mountain is home to a well-protected primeval forest, ancient cultural relics, special geological structures and beautiful scenery.

The mountain becomes one of the hot tourism spots in the province, attracting thousands of visitors all over the country every year. Tragic accidents have occurred before, leading to deaths and injuries of dozens of travellers.

The rescue team divided into six groups, searching the mountain from May 6 to 13, and finally found Hua's frozen body at about 7 pm on Monday at the height of 3,456.8 metres above sea level, Chen said.

Chen warned would-be climbers to take every precaution before setting out on the mountain.

( China Daily May 15, 2002)