This Man from China Mysteriously vanished from his home at night on multiple occasions, only to reappear in cities thousands of miles away—far faster than should have been possible given the distance.
Huang Yanqiu was born in 1956 in a small village in China. He was a farmer, and not much is known about his early life. His mother passed away when he was young.
On July 27, 1977, Huang, who was 21 years old, finished working on his farm and went to sleep in his unfinished home. The next morning, he was gone. His family and neighbors searched everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ten days later, the village received a message from Shanghai, saying Huang was at a deportation center and needed to be picked up. The message was sent the morning after he disappeared, meaning he had arrived in Shanghai—almost 900 km (560 miles) away—in less than half a day, which should have been impossible.
A mindblowing Thread!🧵
Huang Yanqiu was born in 1956 in a small village in China. He was a farmer, and not much is known about his early life. His mother passed away when he was young.
On July 27, 1977, Huang, who was 21 years old, finished working on his farm and went to sleep in his unfinished home. The next morning, he was gone. His family and neighbors searched everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ten days later, the village received a message from Shanghai, saying Huang was at a deportation center and needed to be picked up. The message was sent the morning after he disappeared, meaning he had arrived in Shanghai—almost 900 km (560 miles) away—in less than half a day, which should have been impossible.
A mindblowing Thread!🧵
When Huang returned home, he explained that he went to bed as usual but woke up in a big city with tall buildings, cars, and neon lights. He saw signs that said "Nanjing Shopping Center" and "Nanjing Restaurant" and realized he was in Nanjing, a city 780 km (485 miles) away.
Huang wandered around in shock until two police officers stopped him. He told them he was lost, so they gave him a train ticket to Shanghai and told him to go there. When he arrived in Shanghai, the same two officers were already waiting for him—even though they never got on the train, and the train was the fastest way to travel. This made no sense.
At a deportation camp, Huang told a soldier his story. Because he had no ID and the message sent to his village contained a mistake, it took longer for his family to get him back.
People in the village were confused. Trains at that time were too slow to get him to Nanjing that fast. Other transportation, like airplanes or cars, was either too expensive or unavailable in the village. Huang also had no reason to run away, and he had never talked about Nanjing or Shanghai before. Some people thought he was lying, but others couldn’t explain how he got there.
Then, something similar happened again.
Huang wandered around in shock until two police officers stopped him. He told them he was lost, so they gave him a train ticket to Shanghai and told him to go there. When he arrived in Shanghai, the same two officers were already waiting for him—even though they never got on the train, and the train was the fastest way to travel. This made no sense.
At a deportation camp, Huang told a soldier his story. Because he had no ID and the message sent to his village contained a mistake, it took longer for his family to get him back.
People in the village were confused. Trains at that time were too slow to get him to Nanjing that fast. Other transportation, like airplanes or cars, was either too expensive or unavailable in the village. Huang also had no reason to run away, and he had never talked about Nanjing or Shanghai before. Some people thought he was lying, but others couldn’t explain how he got there.
Then, something similar happened again.
Bonus Post!
This Man Experienced a ‘Time Slip’ That Doctors Say Is Not Possible: He Saw a Mysterious Figure Standing Near Him
howandwhys.com/sebastian-garr…
This Man Experienced a ‘Time Slip’ That Doctors Say Is Not Possible: He Saw a Mysterious Figure Standing Near Him
howandwhys.com/sebastian-garr…
On September 8, 1977, during harvest season, Huang and other villagers worked hard all day. At 10:00 PM, the village leader allowed Huang and a few others to leave early and sleep, as long as they delivered fertilizer the next morning. They agreed and went to bed.
The next morning, on September 9, when the villagers gathered at the storage area, they noticed Huang was missing again. Thinking he overslept, they checked his house, but he wasn’t there. However, they found something strange—words carved into his bedroom wall that said:
"Shandong Gao Dengmin, Gao Yanjin Relax."
Just like before, Huang was found in Shanghai. This time, there were witnesses from both the village and Shanghai who confirmed his disappearance and sudden reappearance. On September 11, he was sent back home, but he still couldn’t explain how he got there.
Huang said he woke up at Shanghai Railway Station in the middle of the night. It was 2:00 AM, and the area was completely dark except for the stars and moon. There was a typhoon hitting Shanghai, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and thunder. He was even more terrified than last time because he had no idea how he got there and had no way to find help.
Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him say:
"Hello there. You must be Huang Yanqiu from Feixiang County. Are you trying to head to the artillery division?"
Shocked, he turned around and saw two men in military uniforms. They told him they were soldiers from the same unit as Lü Qingtang—the soldier who helped him last time. They said they were sent to pick him up.
The next morning, on September 9, when the villagers gathered at the storage area, they noticed Huang was missing again. Thinking he overslept, they checked his house, but he wasn’t there. However, they found something strange—words carved into his bedroom wall that said:
"Shandong Gao Dengmin, Gao Yanjin Relax."
Just like before, Huang was found in Shanghai. This time, there were witnesses from both the village and Shanghai who confirmed his disappearance and sudden reappearance. On September 11, he was sent back home, but he still couldn’t explain how he got there.
Huang said he woke up at Shanghai Railway Station in the middle of the night. It was 2:00 AM, and the area was completely dark except for the stars and moon. There was a typhoon hitting Shanghai, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and thunder. He was even more terrified than last time because he had no idea how he got there and had no way to find help.
Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him say:
"Hello there. You must be Huang Yanqiu from Feixiang County. Are you trying to head to the artillery division?"
Shocked, he turned around and saw two men in military uniforms. They told him they were soldiers from the same unit as Lü Qingtang—the soldier who helped him last time. They said they were sent to pick him up.
Huang followed them as they took ferries and buses to an artillery division in what is now Pudong, Shanghai. Even though the area was heavily guarded, the soldiers got through without any trouble, which was unusual.
They arrived at Lü Qingtang’s home, where his wife, Li Yuying, was completely shocked to see them. She told them:
"When someone visits, they must show documents, sign in, and wait for us to confirm their identity. There’s no way you got in so easily!"
Years later, Lü’s son also found something strange. He said the two soldiers’ uniforms looked wrong, especially their shoes and visors. He described them as too big and not fitting properly, as if they had borrowed the uniforms.
Before anyone could ask the two mysterious men more questions, they simply walked away and were never seen again. The military was very concerned because Huang being on the base was a serious security issue. When they questioned the guards, all of them said they had never seen Huang or the two men before.
They arrived at Lü Qingtang’s home, where his wife, Li Yuying, was completely shocked to see them. She told them:
"When someone visits, they must show documents, sign in, and wait for us to confirm their identity. There’s no way you got in so easily!"
Years later, Lü’s son also found something strange. He said the two soldiers’ uniforms looked wrong, especially their shoes and visors. He described them as too big and not fitting properly, as if they had borrowed the uniforms.
Before anyone could ask the two mysterious men more questions, they simply walked away and were never seen again. The military was very concerned because Huang being on the base was a serious security issue. When they questioned the guards, all of them said they had never seen Huang or the two men before.
Later, another telegram was sent directly to Huang’s village leader, asking for every possible detail about him—even asking if he was a spy. The village leader responded, saying Huang was just a simple farmer. With no evidence of wrongdoing, the military decided to send Huang home but warned him that if he ever appeared at the base again, he would be arrested. Huang returned to his village on September 11, 1977. However, the military could not explain how he had traveled so quickly or entered the base.
By now, no one could deny that something strange was happening. Too many witnesses saw Huang go to sleep in his village, and the military confirmed he was in Shanghai. Those who thought he was lying began to doubt themselves. However, this made Huang infamous in the village. People gossiped about him constantly, and some even believed he was possessed by spirits.
The situation became too much for his fiancée, who sued his family for 200 yuan for "damaging her reputation" and divorced him. This left Huang emotionally devastated and financially ruined. Then, when he was at his lowest, something even stranger happened.
By now, no one could deny that something strange was happening. Too many witnesses saw Huang go to sleep in his village, and the military confirmed he was in Shanghai. Those who thought he was lying began to doubt themselves. However, this made Huang infamous in the village. People gossiped about him constantly, and some even believed he was possessed by spirits.
The situation became too much for his fiancée, who sued his family for 200 yuan for "damaging her reputation" and divorced him. This left Huang emotionally devastated and financially ruined. Then, when he was at his lowest, something even stranger happened.
On September 20, 1977, after a long day of work, Huang started walking home. He was so exhausted that he collapsed in front of his house and disappeared again. This time, he was gone for eight days.
On September 28, the villagers found him under a jujube tree in the village. When they asked where he had been, he told them an even more unbelievable story.
According to Huang, after passing out in his yard, he woke up—not on a sidewalk or in a train station, but inside a luxury hotel room. Standing in front of him were the same two men from before. However, this time, they wore regular clothes and introduced themselves. They said they were brothers from Shandong Province named Gao Dengmin (26 years old) and Gao Yanjin (25 years old). Huang estimated they were about 170 cm (5'7") tall.
The brothers admitted they were responsible for his disappearances. They said they had dressed as police officers and soldiers to help him return home. Now, they had something special planned for him. They told Huang that over the next nine days, they would take him to nine major cities.
Huang was confused and asked where he was at that moment. The brothers told him that it was still September 20, and he was now in Lanzhou, a city in Gansu Province—farther from home than he had ever been.
The day after Huang returned to his village, he finally learned how he had traveled so far so quickly. The two mysterious brothers made him climb onto their backs, and they literally flew. Huang said they flew at a low height, and he didn’t feel any wind. The brothers took turns carrying him, and in just over an hour, they arrived in Beijing.
On September 28, the villagers found him under a jujube tree in the village. When they asked where he had been, he told them an even more unbelievable story.
According to Huang, after passing out in his yard, he woke up—not on a sidewalk or in a train station, but inside a luxury hotel room. Standing in front of him were the same two men from before. However, this time, they wore regular clothes and introduced themselves. They said they were brothers from Shandong Province named Gao Dengmin (26 years old) and Gao Yanjin (25 years old). Huang estimated they were about 170 cm (5'7") tall.
The brothers admitted they were responsible for his disappearances. They said they had dressed as police officers and soldiers to help him return home. Now, they had something special planned for him. They told Huang that over the next nine days, they would take him to nine major cities.
Huang was confused and asked where he was at that moment. The brothers told him that it was still September 20, and he was now in Lanzhou, a city in Gansu Province—farther from home than he had ever been.
The day after Huang returned to his village, he finally learned how he had traveled so far so quickly. The two mysterious brothers made him climb onto their backs, and they literally flew. Huang said they flew at a low height, and he didn’t feel any wind. The brothers took turns carrying him, and in just over an hour, they arrived in Beijing.
In Beijing, they went to the Chang’an Grand Theater without tickets, but no one stopped them. They watched an opera called Forced Onto Mt. Liang. Then, they visited Tiananmen Square and checked into a hotel using a special "provincial-level introduction letter." That same day, they flew to Tianjin, snuck into a movie theater, and watched a film.
Over the next several days, they visited many cities:
September 22 – Harbin (Heilongjiang Province)
September 23 – Changchun (Jilin Province)
September 25 – Fuzhou (Fujian Province), then Nanjing
September 27 – Xi’an (Shaanxi Province) for the Mid-Autumn Festival
September 27 (later that day) – Final stop in Lanzhou
Each time, they traveled by flying, and no matter how far the city was, the trip always took one hour. Huang noticed that the brothers could speak the local dialects of every city they visited. In hotels, they always showed a special introduction letter for check-in. One brother always stayed with Huang while the other found new clothes—sometimes police or military uniforms. The only things they carried were clothing and money; they had no bags or wallets.
Over the next several days, they visited many cities:
September 22 – Harbin (Heilongjiang Province)
September 23 – Changchun (Jilin Province)
September 25 – Fuzhou (Fujian Province), then Nanjing
September 27 – Xi’an (Shaanxi Province) for the Mid-Autumn Festival
September 27 (later that day) – Final stop in Lanzhou
Each time, they traveled by flying, and no matter how far the city was, the trip always took one hour. Huang noticed that the brothers could speak the local dialects of every city they visited. In hotels, they always showed a special introduction letter for check-in. One brother always stayed with Huang while the other found new clothes—sometimes police or military uniforms. The only things they carried were clothing and money; they had no bags or wallets.
Other than their ability to fly, they seemed like normal people. They ate and slept like anyone else and had a normal body temperature. However, they had strict rules: Huang wasn’t allowed to take photos or keep souvenirs. When he asked why they chose him, they didn’t answer. When he asked if they could teach him how to fly, they firmly said, "No."
Just like when Huang first disappeared, he was gone for nine days and visited nine different cities. But this time, when he fell asleep in their hotel, he woke up back in his village under a tree—as if nothing had happened.
After Huang’s strange disappearances, people in the village kept talking about him. Some believed ghosts or gods were involved. The rumors spread so much that the local police, government, and even the military started investigating him. Officials thought he might be lying to hurt the village’s reputation. They called him a “class enemy” but, after questioning him, found nothing suspicious. He acted normal, had no mental illness, and showed no signs of lying. So, they dropped the charges and let him go.
Huang’s story became famous across China and was considered one of the country’s strangest unsolved mysteries. Even the government officially listed his case as “unexplained.”
In 2004, investigators took another look at his case. UFO researchers, a hypnotist, and other experts interviewed Huang. There was solid proof of his first two disappearances, like telegrams and eyewitnesses. However, his third disappearance was more doubtful.
Under hypnosis, Huang repeated the same story he told back in 1977. But during the session, he suddenly woke up, saying “one of the two brothers” made him wake up. A documentary was made about his case, and he was given a polygraph (lie detector) test, which he failed. However, the test was not considered reliable because it had been 27 years, his memory had faded, and he was under stress.
Just like when Huang first disappeared, he was gone for nine days and visited nine different cities. But this time, when he fell asleep in their hotel, he woke up back in his village under a tree—as if nothing had happened.
After Huang’s strange disappearances, people in the village kept talking about him. Some believed ghosts or gods were involved. The rumors spread so much that the local police, government, and even the military started investigating him. Officials thought he might be lying to hurt the village’s reputation. They called him a “class enemy” but, after questioning him, found nothing suspicious. He acted normal, had no mental illness, and showed no signs of lying. So, they dropped the charges and let him go.
Huang’s story became famous across China and was considered one of the country’s strangest unsolved mysteries. Even the government officially listed his case as “unexplained.”
In 2004, investigators took another look at his case. UFO researchers, a hypnotist, and other experts interviewed Huang. There was solid proof of his first two disappearances, like telegrams and eyewitnesses. However, his third disappearance was more doubtful.
Under hypnosis, Huang repeated the same story he told back in 1977. But during the session, he suddenly woke up, saying “one of the two brothers” made him wake up. A documentary was made about his case, and he was given a polygraph (lie detector) test, which he failed. However, the test was not considered reliable because it had been 27 years, his memory had faded, and he was under stress.
During the documentary, police drew sketches based on Huang’s descriptions of the mysterious “Gao brothers” he claimed to have met. They also brought Huang to Nanjing to retrace his steps from the first time he disappeared.
Later, doctors at a hospital reviewed his case. One doctor said that if Huang’s story were true, the “Gao brothers” would have been moving at supersonic speeds. The doctor suggested that Huang was either sleepwalking or lying.
Huang’s villagers did not believe he was lying. They pointed out that he had nothing to gain from telling his story—he lost his fiancée and became a laughingstock. Also, he had no money or way to travel such long distances on his own.
Later, doctors at a hospital reviewed his case. One doctor said that if Huang’s story were true, the “Gao brothers” would have been moving at supersonic speeds. The doctor suggested that Huang was either sleepwalking or lying.
Huang’s villagers did not believe he was lying. They pointed out that he had nothing to gain from telling his story—he lost his fiancée and became a laughingstock. Also, he had no money or way to travel such long distances on his own.
Several theories have been suggested:
Sleepwalking Theory – Some believe Huang was sleepwalking when he traveled to these cities. However, this is unlikely because he would have needed to walk for hours, buy a train ticket with no money, and switch trains—all without waking up or anyone noticing. Doctors even did an MRI scan of his brain, which came back normal.
Multiple Personality Disorder Theory – Another idea is that Huang had multiple personalities. In this theory, his “Gao brothers” were actually different versions of himself, and he imagined flying with them. However, mental health experts found no signs of this disorder in Huang. This theory also doesn’t explain how he traveled so fast.
UFO Theory – Some believe Huang was abducted by aliens. Investigators checked the details of his story. For example, Huang mentioned watching a theater performance in Beijing. A journalist found that the theater he mentioned was closed at the time, but another nearby theater did have the same performance on the exact date Huang said he was there. This suggests he may have really been in Beijing.
Military Experiment Theory – Another theory is that the Chinese military kidnapped Huang for secret experiments. Some believe the “Gao brothers” were high-ranking officers involved. They might have drugged and hypnotized Huang to erase his memory. However, skeptics argue that the government had plenty of prisoners for experiments, so why choose a random farmer?
“The Huang Yanqiu Incident” remains one of China’s most famous unsolved mysteries. As of now, there have been no new developments. Huang, now 67, has chosen to live a quiet life in his village, away from the public eye. The last known update about him was in 2008, when he underwent another mental health check.
Sleepwalking Theory – Some believe Huang was sleepwalking when he traveled to these cities. However, this is unlikely because he would have needed to walk for hours, buy a train ticket with no money, and switch trains—all without waking up or anyone noticing. Doctors even did an MRI scan of his brain, which came back normal.
Multiple Personality Disorder Theory – Another idea is that Huang had multiple personalities. In this theory, his “Gao brothers” were actually different versions of himself, and he imagined flying with them. However, mental health experts found no signs of this disorder in Huang. This theory also doesn’t explain how he traveled so fast.
UFO Theory – Some believe Huang was abducted by aliens. Investigators checked the details of his story. For example, Huang mentioned watching a theater performance in Beijing. A journalist found that the theater he mentioned was closed at the time, but another nearby theater did have the same performance on the exact date Huang said he was there. This suggests he may have really been in Beijing.
Military Experiment Theory – Another theory is that the Chinese military kidnapped Huang for secret experiments. Some believe the “Gao brothers” were high-ranking officers involved. They might have drugged and hypnotized Huang to erase his memory. However, skeptics argue that the government had plenty of prisoners for experiments, so why choose a random farmer?
“The Huang Yanqiu Incident” remains one of China’s most famous unsolved mysteries. As of now, there have been no new developments. Huang, now 67, has chosen to live a quiet life in his village, away from the public eye. The last known update about him was in 2008, when he underwent another mental health check.
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