Mount Everest Overview

Mount Everest overview can help you have a more comprehensive understanding of Mount Everest from the basic information, geographical location, climate, transportaiton, accommodation and so on.

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 珠穆朗玛峰
• English Name: Mount Everest/Qomolangma
• Location: On the border of Nepal and Tibet
• Elevation: 8844.43 meters
• Admission Price: 180 CNY
• Openning Hours: All day
• Recommended Travel Duration: 2-5 days
• Famous Attractions: Rongbuk Monastery, Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Glacier, Gamagou Valley.

Geographical Conditions

Mount Everest (Qomolangma) is the main peak of the Himalayas, and the highest mountain peak in the world, on the boundary of China and Nepal. The northern part of Mount Everest is in the territory of Tingri County, Tibet (the west slope is at the Tashi Dzom Township of Tingri County, the east slope is at the Qutang Township of Tingri County and Everest Base Camp is on the east slope), and the southern part of it is in Nepal. 

Mount Everest is in a huge pyramid-shaped, powerful and majestic, with extremely steep terrain and complex environment. The height of snow line is 5800-6200 meters in the north slope, 5500-6100 meters in the south slope. The supply of glaciers is mainly formed by the metamorphism of snow in the two major precipitation zones of the Indian Ocean monsoon belt. Within a range of 20 kilometers around it, there are numerous peaks, including more than 40 peaks above 7000 meters above sea level, among which the famous ones are Lhotse peak, Makalu peak, Changtse peak, Cho Oyu peak and Shishapangma peak, etc. 

Geographical Evolution

Himalayan region that Mount Everest located was originally a sea. In the long geological years, huge amounts of gravel and silt have been washed up from the land, piled up in the Himalayan region, formed here more than 30,000 meters thick Marine sedimentary rock. Since then, due to the strong orogenic movement, the Himalayan region has been pushed up violently. It is estimated that the Himalayan region has been rising by 20-30 meters every ten thousand years on average. Up to now, the Himalayan region is still rising, rising by 7 centimeters every 100 years.

Climate

Due to its high altitude and unique geographical environment, Mount Everest has a typical alpine climate. According to the radio sounding data of the Tingri weather station at the foot of the Mount Everest, at an altitude of 7500 meters, the coldest month is February, the average temperature is -27.1℃, and the hottest month is August, the average temperature is -10.4℃, and the annual average temperature is -19.6℃. The lowest temperature on the top of the mountain is -30°C to -40°C (22-40°F), but cold winds can make you feel even colder. What's more, the rainy season is from early June to mid-september every year. 

Best Time to Visit Mount Everest

It is recommended to get to Mount Everest during April to June and September to October. Every October to next April, the severe cold weather make it tough to have a trip. And every July to August is the rainy season of Mount Everest resulting in the bad climbing condition and heavy fog.

Attractions Around Mount Everest

There are some attractions near the Mount Everest. As follows: 

• There are 15 glaciers with an area of more than 10 square kilometers. Among them, the largest Rongbuk Glacier is 26 kilometers long and the average thickness is 120 meters. Numerous glaciers are entrenched in valleys like jade dragons. Serac, icy bridge and ice towers can be found everywhere.
• Everest Base Camp: Everest Base Camp is built to protect the environment of the core zone of Mount Everest, which is located at the altitude of 5,200 meters and 19 kilometers away from the top. The buses should stop at Rongbuk Monastery and tourists have to transfer carriage of hiking 7 kilometers to arrive at the base camp. There are tents served for mountaineers and tourists, hostels, tea houses, shops and post office.
• Rongbuk Monastery: Built in 1901, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world and located on the foot of Mount Everest. And many mountaineers consider Rongbuk Monastery as the best place to appreciate Mount Everest.
• Lhotse Mountain: the fourth highest peak in the world at the altitude of 8,516 meters and located in the south of Mount Everest. In May 18, 1956, Swiss mountaineering team succeeded in reaching the top from the west ridge in Nepal while nobody did so from the east ridge in China up to now.
• Cho Oyu Mountain: the sixth highest peak in the world at the altitude of 8,201 meters and located in the northwest of Mount Everest. There are mainly five ridges in Cho Oyu Mountain: northwest ridge, northeast ridge, southwest ridge, southeast ridge and west ridge.
• Makalu Mountain: The fifth highest peak in the world at the altitude of 8,463 meters and located in the southeast of Mount Everest. Heavy ice and snow are covered and escarpment and crevice of large glacier are common so that glacier avalanche happens frequently.

Mount Everest Protected Area

Centered on Mount Everest, China has set up a nature reserve spanning four counties, and Nepal has set up a national park. The northern part of Mount Everest is in the territory of Tingri County, Tibet (the west slope is at the Tashi Dzom Township of Tingri County, the east slope is at the Qutang Township of Tingri County and Everest Base Camp is on the east slope), and there are climbing routes on every slope. Mount Everest nature reserve in China includes many peaks (Mount Everest, Lhotse, Changtse, Cho Oyu, etc.), Everest Base Camp, 5 valleys (Chentanggou陈塘沟, Gamagou, Rongxiagou绒辖沟, Zhangmugou樟木沟, Jilonggou吉隆沟) and related monasteries and temples.

Accommodation of Mount Everest

Accommodation at Mount Everest is relatively limited. There are usually three kinds of accommodation options for those tourists who go to the Mount Everest, the county seat of Tingri county where is kind of far from Mount Everest but with slightly better conditions, Everest tent hotels that the most tourists choose, and the only accommodation option after the Everest base camp tents are evacuated- Rongbuk Monastery. All three options make it convenient for visitors to enjoy the sight of Mount Everest.

Transportation of Mount Everest

Obviously, flight to Mount Everest is not available. You can fly to Lhasa or Shigatse first, then transfer to Everest Base Camp by tourist bus. If you don't want to take the 6 hours' drive to Shigatse by van/tourist bus, our travel agent can arrange a train trip for you. Currently, there are 3 trains to and fro Shigatse railway station every day. When you are there in Shigatse, a van/bus trip will continue to head for Everest Base Camp. However, it is suggested to get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by tourist bus/off-road vehicle. Since foreign tourists in Tibet must be accompanied by a local guide, this is the most popular mode of transportation for tour groups. Generally, tour buses are used for group Tours, while off-road vehicles are used as the main means of transportation for private groups of 1-3 people. The whole journey from Lhasa to Everest base camp on asphalt road will take 2 days. On the first day from Lhasa to Shigatse, you will pass by Yamdrok, Palcho Monastery and other scenic spots. The second day from Shigatse to Everest base camp, passing through Tingri county, will arrive at Everest base camp in the evening. If weather permits, you can watch the sunset view of Mount Everest.

Climbing Routes of Mount Everest

The Southeast Ridge from Nepal, called the South Col Route, and the Northeast Ridge or the North Col Route from Tibet are the usual climbing routes up Mount Everest. Until January, 2014, a total of 6,971 ascents of Mount Everest have been made by 4,042 different climbers and they discovered 11 climbing routes.

Routes Times/Remarks

Biological Species

The summit of Mount Everest is covered by snow and ice all year round. The glacier covers an area of 10,000 square kilometers. The snow line is low in the south and high in the north. The south slope is rich in precipitation, with tropical monsoon rainforest below 1,000 meters, subtropical evergreen forest from 1,000 to 2,000 meters, temperate forest above 2,000 meters, and alpine meadow above 4,500 meters. The north slope is mainly alpine meadow, with forests and shrubs in the valley below 4,100 meters. There are peacocks, gibbons, Tibetan bears, snow leopards, Tibetan antelope and other rare animals. Varieties of crops include wheat, barley, buckwheat, corn, potatoes, peas, oilseed rape and so on. Livestock breeds include yak, cattle, horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, etc.

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