Climbers who were rescued from the Siguniang Mountains arrive at a hotel in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, on Wednesday. [Provided to China Daily]

CHENGDU - Nine climbers' elation at being rescued after 10 days in treacherous mountains has not faded, but they have been told by their rescuers: "Pay the fine and fees for the rescue mission!"

On Sept 30, the nine climbers and a local guide, accompanied by four bearers employed to carry their packs, entered the Siguniang Mountains in Sichuan province and chose a route that had been closed by authorities in June for being too dangerous in their "pursuit of excitement", according to earlier reports by local media.

The climbers planned to finish the adventure on Oct 6, but apparently lost their way on the mountain.

The Siguniang Mountains Administrative Bureau received a plea for help from the guide's family on Oct 9 and launched a search involving more than 1,000 police officers and rescue workers.

On Oct 12, the climbers, who hail from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong, were found in a village on the mountain and were later accompanied to safety.

Many netizens suggested authorities should fine the climbers and ask them to share the cost of the search.

The county government of Xiaojin, where the mountain stands, spent more than 100,000 yuan ($15,665) on the rescue operation. The administrative bureau spent 26,000 yuan and the Sichuan Mountain Rescue Corps spent 3,600 yuan on vehicles and searchers.

However, the nine climbers will have to pay 5,600 yuan at most, according to Gao Min, deputy chief of the Sichuan Mountaineering Association.

Although the county government and the administrative bureau of the Siguniang Mountains have said they will not bill the nine climbers for the search, the Sichuan Mountain Rescue Corps has insisted they should pay. The move is aimed at discouraging unauthorized mountain climbing, Gao said.

Under a local regulation pertaining to mountaineering in Sichuan, the nine climbers will be fined 500 to 2,000 yuan, he said, adding that another 3,600 yuan for the rescue corps will be put on their bill.

Tang Yanghua, the guide, recalled what they did in the mountains.

After encountering flooding on the banned route, Tang suggested they take another path he was familiar with.

To advance along that path, Tang had to fell trees in the thick forest.

"Sometimes we could advance only 300 meters in an hour. Fortunately, all of us got off of the mountain despite the delay," he said.

Sichuan has more than 200 mountains that are over 4,000 to 7,000 meters high. Many of them have complicated terrain, and the weather can change quickly, making mountaineering difficult and sometimes dangerous.

Despite the danger, these conditions appeal to climbers seeking challenges, said Lin Li, general manger of the Sichuan Forerunner Mountaineering and Adventure Club.

He suggested climbers register with professional mountaineering organizations or clubs so they can get up-to-date information about routes, essential equipment and professional guides.