Chinese surveying team reached Qomolangma summit to remeasure its height

By:China Tibet News
update:June 01,2020

Photo shows that Chinese surveying team successfully reaches the summit of Mount Qomolanga, the world's highest peak, on the morning of May 27, 2020. [Photo/ Xinhua]

June 1,2020 -- At 11 a.m. on May 27, 2020, Chinese surveying team reached the summit of the Mount Qomolangma and remeasured the height of the World's highest peak, where they unfurled a Chinese national flag waving in the wind.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chinese surveyors had conducted six rounds of scaled measurements and scientific researches on Mount Qomolangma. Two height measurements were issuedfor the peak, one in 1975 and another in 2005, putting it at 8848.13 meters and 8844.43 meters respectively.

Today, Mt. Qomolangma, the main peak of Himalayas, is remeasured by Chinese surveying team after a lapse of 15 years.

"In this survey, a great number of domestic surveying equipment are applied, the reliability and accuracy are qualitatively improved comparing with 2005," says Li Guopeng, director of the 1st Geodetic Surveying Brigade under the Ministry of Natural Resources, "accurately collecting the relevant data will enhance human knowledge of Mt. Qomolangma.

Photo shows that a member of Chinese surveying team is erecting a survey marker and installing a Global Navigation Satellite System antenna on the peak to conduct the observations. [Photo/ Xinhua]

On May 6, the measurement was officially launched but postponed twice due to the weather.

On May 27, with scientific planning and indomitable spirit, the team reached the summit of Qomolangma, overcoming heavy snow and strong wind in the extremely high-altitude area.

The team member also remained at the summit for two and half an hour, setting a record for Chinese climbers.

At about 13:30, team leader Tsenor reported to Command at the base camp, "surveying mission completed, we are ready to descend."

"The changes of Qomolangma are the key significance to global studies of geology and ecology, with a major impact on humanbeing's lives," says Chen Gang, deputy chief engineer at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Temperature, air pressure, reflection environment and other factors greatly affect the measurement, so it will probably take two - three months for the scientists to calculate and release the exact height of Mt. Qomolangma, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

By:Liu Fang, Tenzin Sydron