On November 26, the cable car at the Zhangjiakou Ski Resort in Hebei province malfunctioned and stopped operating. In the -15°C weather, multiple tourists were trapped in the air for nearly 1 hour. Some of the rescued tourists mentioned feeling numb and dizzy from the cold, with some even experiencing cramps and needing to be taken to the emergency room.
According to a video posted by netizens on the 26th, the cable car at the Chongli area of Zhangjiakou suddenly stopped operating. The footage showed the cable car suspended in mid-air, swaying back and forth due to strong winds, and the sound of the howling wind could be heard.
On November 27, a tourist told Extreme News that around 2:50 pm, she and her companions were riding the cable car at the Taiwu Ski Resort when it abruptly halted as they were descending. They were stranded for about 1 hour before the cable car was restarted.
The tourist mentioned that the temperature on the mountain was -15°C, and combined with the strong winds, the actual felt temperature was even lower, stating that they were “almost freezing to death.”
Another tourist mentioned that despite multiple attempts to call the ski resort’s customer service and cable car rescue numbers resulting in busy tones, it was only after dialing 110 and the fire department that they were informed rescue personnel were on their way.
Some tourists later shared online that they felt numb and dizzy from the cold when getting off the cable car. Due to the prolonged swaying of the cabin, they felt lightheaded, experienced cramps, and even had to be taken to the emergency room. One netizen also reported witnessing skiing enthusiasts suffering from hypothermia and fainting.
In response to the incident, officials from the Chongli area Sports Bureau stated on the afternoon of the 27th that a computer display showed a fault in the curved broken motor which prevented the emergency equipment from being activated. The fault was rectified at 3:35 pm. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
The staff also mentioned that each stranded tourist was registered and compensated with a full-day ski pass valued at 600 yuan.
The cable car department of the ski resort involved stated that the faulty motor had already been replaced.
One netizen commented, “I went there not long ago, and that top cable car would often start and stop, scaring me. This must be a recurring issue, but it took this incident to prompt a change.”
Another netizen said, “Compensating with a 600 yuan ski pass is basically giving you a chance to experience it again, they didn’t incur any financial losses.” Some expressed that after this incident, even if they were offered 6000 yuan, they wouldn’t dare to go through the experience again. Some netizens are no longer surprised by such incidents, saying, “It’s normal, no need to make a fuss.”