Twenty-one students from one of the country's top universities were rescued on March 2 after being trapped for 36 hours by heavy snow in a mountain in Weixian county, Hebei province, Beijing Evening News reported.

The students were all from the Eagle Society of Peking University, which is a mountain-climbing club. On Feb 26, the club members, 13 male and eight female, headed to the Xiaowutai Mountain, a nature reserve in Weixian county for winter training.

However, a heavy snow blocked their way as they descended the mountain on Sunday. Several rescue teams came to search for them after one student's parent asked for help.

On Tuesday morning, a rescue team from Eagle Society met the students and helped them safely climb down the mountain.

The students might be fined 500 RMB each for trespassing, said officials at the administration office of the mountain.