Since the first successful ascent of Everest in 1960, Chinese mountaineers have revered this magnificent peak countless times. Scaling the world’s highest mountain has been the lifelong dream of many climbers and enthusiasts. How to be a brave adventurer rather than a reckless tourist is a topic every climber faces. To explore this, our reporter interviewed Zhang Zhijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Mountaineering Association.
Reporter: Some say climbing Everest is becoming a game for the wealthy. What’s your take on this? What specific regulations does China have for high-altitude expeditions?
Zhang Zhijian: High-altitude expeditions fall under the category of exploration and must be approached with a scientific attitude, professional knowledge, skilled personnel, and proper equipment. There are requirements for those preparing to embark on such adventures—it’s not something anyone can do on a whim, as that would show disrespect for human life. Therefore, China has standardized management measures for high-altitude expeditions. The restrictions in these measures are designed to ensure that scientific exploration is built on a rational and scientific foundation. This includes regulations on climbers’ qualifications, equipment, team composition, and expedition scheduling, all grounded in the hard-earned lessons and experiences of pioneering mountaineers. These rules are based on solid scientific evidence.
Reporter: Climbing Everest requires paying 280,000 yuan. You’ve said this 280,000 isn’t an admission fee.
Zhang Zhijian: Exactly. Some people confuse this issue. For safety reasons, the *Domestic Mountaineering Management Measures* stipulate the conditions required for climbing high-altitude peaks. In other words, climbing Everest has technical prerequisites and requires administrative approval. Administrative permits are free, but meeting the technical requirements incurs costs. Whether you prepare everything yourself or hire a company, training, transportation, and purchasing gear all come with expenses. Starting from scratch might cost around 280,000 yuan, but with prior technical experience and equipment, the amount needed is much less. For example, the team from China University of Geosciences that summited in May didn’t pay nearly that much. The 280,000 yuan isn’t a ticket—you can’t just pay to climb Everest. Similarly, if you meet basic safety standards, you don’t need to spend that much to attempt the climb.
Other famous mountains abroad have similar management systems to Everest. Registration, permits, and guides are also required before climbing.
Reporter: Nowadays, there are many high-altitude expedition service companies. What role do these companies play in high-altitude expeditions?
Zhang Zhijian: High-altitude expedition service companies are specialized professional service providers that offer safety and logistical support for high-altitude expeditions. In China, they must be approved by sports and industrial-commercial authorities to operate, such as the Sacred Mountain Expedition Service Company in Tibet. These service companies have played a significant role in the development of mountaineering in China.
First, as everyone knows, high-altitude expeditions were once exclusively for professionals, out of reach for the general public, due to the need for specialized knowledge, skills, equipment, and personnel. The emergence of high-altitude expedition service companies has built a bridge between elite mountaineering and the broader public, making such expeditions accessible to some segments of the population.
Second, these companies have also provided valuable employment opportunities for China’s mountaineering talent. Many students come from farming and herding families in mountainous regions, with relatively modest living conditions, limited education, and scarce professional expertise. Through training at mountaineering schools and employment with high-altitude expedition service companies, these individuals serve climbers from around the world, enabling young people from farming and herding backgrounds with mountaineering skills to build better lives.
Third, high-altitude expedition service companies serve as platforms that nurture and retain a pool of experienced high-altitude expedition professionals in China. These individuals, with years of experience in the field, become a vital force when the nation requires their expertise. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay, some team members came from Sacred Mountain Company. Their roles weren’t limited to high-altitude support staff—many even joined the Chinese Mountaineering Team and became torchbearers.
Since the development of high-altitude expeditions for the general public in China is still relatively new, the number of such service companies is limited, and their service quality and standards are relatively modest. We hope the public will offer constructive feedback and suggestions to help these companies improve their services.
For background on this incident, please read: (http://www.lvye.cn/article-25169-1.html Commercial Everest summits start at 280,000 yuan; controversy over expedition company monopoly)