A female journalist lived at Everest Base Camp for 50 days to report on a mountaineering team

Reporter Gong Xue

　　"After returning from Everest, my biggest takeaway is that human potential is limitless." Wang Jing, a delegate to the 10th Provincial Party Congress and a reporter for our newspaper, is a petite and seemingly delicate woman. Yet it was she who spent 50 days at Everest Base Camp, witnessing the historic moment when the mountaineering team from China University of Geosciences reached the world's summit, accomplishing what many male journalists could not.

　　Yesterday, Wang Jing, who is actively preparing to attend the Party Congress, recalled her unforgettable Everest journey. On April 9, she arrived in Lhasa and, along with the team, trekked 600 kilometers over three days to set up camp at Everest Base Camp, which sits at an altitude of 5,200 meters. In the extremely cold and oxygen-deprived environment, she and the team members slept in tents where temperatures dropped to minus 10 degrees Celsius, staying put for 50 days and filing 44 illustrated reports.

　　Nights on Everest are spectacular, with majestic starry skies and snow-capped mountains—but not romantic. "We often went to sleep accompanied by fierce winds and snow, waking up three or four times a night due to the strong gusts." By morning, the openings of their sleeping bags would be covered with shiny icicles.

　　The mountaineering team had originally planned to summit in mid-May, but due to relentless winds and snowstorms, rare severe weather repeatedly delayed their plans. Wang Jing steadfastly remained at the harsh and challenging base camp, vividly documenting the team’s ascent to the Advance Base Camp at 6,500 meters, the push to the North Col at 7,028 meters, crossing the high-wind area at 7,500 meters, and the final assault on the camps at 7,790 and 8,300 meters.

　　At 8:16 am on May 19, four members of the China University of Geosciences mountaineering team successfully reached the highest point of Everest at 8,844.43 meters, becoming the first university climbing team in China to conquer the peak and setting three new historical records. Throughout the night before the summit, Wang Jing had stayed up, meticulously planning and thoroughly reporting. When the radio brought the good news, she promptly filed five reports totaling nearly 8,000 words, sharing this thrilling moment with readers.

　　Wang Jing’s reports blend scientific insight with engaging storytelling. Beyond documenting the Everest climb, she also filed features such as "Everest Base Camp: A Mini United Nations" and "The Colorful Characters of Everest," presenting readers with a vivid and authentic portrayal of the mysterious and distant world of Everest and the sacred yet challenging sport of extreme mountaineering. Her words inspire strength and courage.

　　Success belongs to those who are prepared. In her daily work, Wang Jing is a highly skilled and dedicated journalist. Over her 15-year career, she has won more than 10 awards, including the China News Award (First Prize), Hubei News Award (First Prize), and the National Provincial and Municipal Party Newspaper Excellent News Award.

　　Many journalists have visited Everest Base Camp, but few have stayed there for nearly two months. Faced with the accolades, Wang Jing smiles modestly: "If I’ve really achieved something, it’s out of curiosity."