Mount Everest

Mt Everest, standing for “holy mother” in Tibetan language, 8848 meters above the sea level, is the highest peak in the world. It locates on the boundary between China and Nepal, in the south of the town of Tingri in the Shigatse area. There are snow mantles all the year round on the top of the peak, which make the scene clean and saintly. There are four peaks over 8000 meters’ high, 38 peaks over 7000 meters’ high, so that the area is hailed “the 3rd floor of the earth”.

The Rongphu Temple at the foot of Mt Everest is the highest temple in the world, which is also the best location for Mt Everest’s sightseeing.

Magnificent valleys and glaciers are in the Mt Everest Natural Protection Zone. Among the 14 peaks over 8000 meters’ high in the world, five locates here. The glacier forest locates in the wide area on the elevation 5300 meters to 6300 meters, has the glacier configuration in completeness.

On the glaciers, white is the only color in your visual field. There are too many Beautiful scenes to be appreciated at once-layered cliffs, agminate etched stalagmites, pillars, stone daggers and stone towers undulated continuously for several miles. This place is hailed “garden on the plateau” by the climbers for its high elevation and fantastic scenery. Climbing onto the top of the highest peak in the world and overlooking the mountains and rivers are the wishes of all the alpinists.

Mt Everest is on the 86.9°east longitude, 27.9°north latitude. It locates on the eastern sect of the boundary between China and Nepal. The north slop of Mt Everest is in the Dingri Town of Tibet in China, while the south slop in Nepal. Mt Everest  is also called Qomolangma , which means "the third goddess” in Tibetan language. “General Plot Picture”, a book edited in 1721 by the Chinese government in Qing dynasty described the exact location of Mt Everest and named it “Zhumulangma-a-lin” (a-lin in language of Man national, ity means peak). To the year 1771, the other book edited by government during the period of emperor Qianlong exchanged the peak’s name into “Qomolangma”, which was followed to modern time.

Of course, the highest peak in the world is the dream of alpinists. But the terrain is steep and the environment is complicated there. The height of the snow line: 5800~6200 meters on the north slop and 5500~6100 meters on the south slop. There are three steep cliffs (the north cliff, east cliff and southwest cliff) between the ridges. 548 grand glaciers are also distributed among the ridges, cover 1457.07㎡.

The weather is complicated in the Mt Everest area. Even in the same day, the weather changes unpredictably. Generally speaking, the rainy season lasts from June to September every year. There are frequent rainstorms, drifting mist and clouds, far beneath the bitter snow, fugacious bad weather. During the period from November to the next February, influenced by the cold snap, the temperature could reach -60℃, the average temperature is between -40℃ and -50℃. The highest wind speed could get to 90meters/second.

There are only two good sessions for climbing: from the beginning of March to the end of May; from the beginning of September to the end of October. But count the uncertain reasons in, actually the suitable period for climbing is less than 20 days, with lower wind speed and little now and rain.

Travel Tips

Boarding and Lodging: The Rongphu Monastery is the only place for lodging near the Mt Everest Camp. The lodging will cost you 25RMB per bed. This is the best location for watching the scenes in the mornings and evenings. There is a small restaurant at the gate of the Rongphu Monaster, operated by a Tibetan young guy. You could communicate with him in English since he could not speak mandarin. The dishes are in common taste and high price. Consider the long distance freight in, it is reasonable.

There is a 8km distance between the Rongphu Monaster and the Mt Everest Camp. You could also choose to live in Mt Everest Camp if you have bivouac equipments and cooker unites with you. In the mountain climbing seasons, a contactor of the alpinist club will settle here. You could buy food and water from him, but in high price, 3 times higher than the prices in Lhasa. For example, beer will cost you 10RMB per tin.The Qomolangma Hotel has good boarding conditions. It will cost you 330RMB per room with independent rest room. Behind the main building, there are also some cheap room without independent rest room, but also very clean. The price is only 30 RMB/person, which sometimes could be bargained to 20 RMB.

[Reminder] The checkpoint is located near Mt Everest. Procedures need to be checked there before starting your climbing. After straightly walking for 40km, you could get to a small village called Zhaxizong, where there are several restaurants without any vegetable, you could have a rest there. Then keep walking for 30km, after passing the gap of Cuola, four mountains over 8000 meters’ high will come into your visual field. After 20km walking from here, you could get to the base camp.

Attentions: Border visa is necessary for get into the Qomolangma area. The border visa could be get in the town of Lhaze.

Climbing Period: April~June