Liputan6.com, Jakarta The phrase “running away to the mountains because of a breakup” may sound like a dramatic line from a young, heartbroken person.
However, the phrase is actually true and has been experienced by several people.
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Left behind by his girlfriend, a young man from China named Xiaolin suddenly disappeared for almost six days in a mountain forest without food, water, or a cell phone, just to heal his broken heart.
He didn't even eat or drink on the way for three days. He eventually survived by drinking river water and eating wild fruits.
This true story shocked the Chinese public and went viral on social media.
His reckless actions triggered a massive search by police and citizens, and he was eventually found in a weak but safe condition.
This emotional and extreme journey is a reminder that heartbreak can lead to unexpected and sometimes dangerous decisions.
So, what is the story of Xiaolin, who fled to the mountains because of a breakup?
Xiaolin's chronology of escaping to the mountains after heartbreak
As reported by the South China Morning Post on Thursday (July 10), this incident began when police in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, received a report from a young man in Changsha, Hunan Province.
The complainant claimed to have lost contact with his younger brother named Xiaolin, who was working alone in Hangzhou.
He last heard from Xiaolin on June 19.
After three days without news, concern prompted him to contact the authorities.
Police who visited Xiaolin's apartment found the unit empty, with her cell phone and personal belongings left behind.
CCTV footage shows Xiaolin walking away from her apartment on June 20 in the afternoon.
His last detected location was the Dalang Mountains area, around 1am the next morning.
A massive search operation was launched. More than 100 personnel, including police and local residents, were deployed to comb the mountainous area.
Technological support, such as sniffer dogs, drones, and sonar, was also used. However, the results were nil.
Finally, on the morning of June 26, surveillance cameras in a park in Lin'an District captured Xiaolin's whereabouts.
The authorities acted immediately and managed to find her safe, although weak and dressed in rags.
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Xiaolin fled to the mountains to calm down
Zhu Liliang, Deputy Director of Yuhang Police Station, explained that Xiaolin was under heavy emotional stress due to the breakup.
Mentally unstable, she decided to go into the mountains to clear her head and calm down.
Xiaolin reportedly traveled approximately 40 kilometers, following the mountain path from Xianlin to Fuyang, then to Zhongtai, and finally to Lin'an.
For the first three days, she did not eat or drink at all.
Only after her body began to weaken did she start to survive by drinking water from a mountain spring and eating wild fruits and food she found around the villagers' houses.
“When we found him, he looked very weak and his clothes were badly damaged,” officer Zhu told local television station HTV-1.
“Thankfully, his condition is now stable and does not require intensive care,” he added.
