Missing China man found walking in mountains for 6 days to forget ex-girlfriend 

The man had been struggling with a recent breakup and ventured into the mountains to clear his mind, the police said. (Representational image: Unsplash)

A heartbroken young Chinese man has captured social media's attention after spending six days wandering through the wilderness, often without food, water, or his mobile phone, all in a desperate attempt to forget his ex-girlfriend after a breakup.

The incident came to light when the local police in Yuhang district received a call from a man reporting his younger brother, identified as Xiaolin, had been out of contact for three days. Officers found Xiaolin's flat empty, his mobile phone left behind. Surveillance footage showed him leaving his rented flat on foot on the afternoon of June 20, with his last known location around the surrounding Dalang Mountain area early the next morning.

The Yuhang police launched a massive search, mobilising over 100 officers and local residents. Despite deploying police dogs, drones, and sonar devices, they could not find Xiaolin, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Finally, on the morning of June 26, Xiaolin was spotted on surveillance cameras in a park in Lin’an District. Local authorities were alerted, and Xiaolin was found. Zhu Liliang, the deputy director of the Yuhang Police Station, told HTV-1 that Xiaolin was discovered in rags. “When we found him, his clothes were in tatters,” he said.

According to the police, Xiaolin had been struggling with a recent breakup and ventured into the mountains to clear his mind. He walked mountain trails covering a distance of about 40 kilometres, surviving by picking wild fruit and drinking water from mountain streams.

"He did not eat or drink for the first three days. Later, when his body could not take it anymore, he drank from mountain springs and ate food found near village homes,” officer Zhu said.

Currently, Xiaolin is in a stable condition. After speaking with the police, he reportedly realised the distress he had caused himself and his family and promised not to act so impulsively again.