Jiangsu native went ‘missing’ from scenic Heizhugou – often dubbed as ‘China’s Bermuda’
The authorities of a scenic spot in southwest Sichuan province, which claimed over 63,000 yuan (HK$74,582.3) as compensation to launch a manhunt for a traveller missing for 17 days, have found that he had plotted his own disappearance, mainland media reported.
Zou Ji, 27, lost contact with his companions in the Heizhugou scenic area while exploring the dangerous mountainous region dubbed as “China’s Bermuda” on May 6, the Beijing News reported.
He was traced in Lhasa 17 days later.
Zou, a native of Wuxi city in eastern coastal Jiangsu province, travelled through Chengdu, Aba, Ganzi and Linzhi, using an ID card of another man who resembled him and a new phone number.
A local resident in Lhasa blew his cover following media reports about his disappearance.
Zou said he had planned his disappearance act for the past six months because he was unhappy with his life and had a communication gap with his parents. He cited his desire to “learn Chinese medicine, which requires a quiet environment” as the other reason for going missing.
Zou has since returned home after meeting with his father at a police station in Lhasa.
The authorities have fined him 1,000 yuan for disrupting public order.
