Mount Everest (Mt. Qomolangma)

Mount Everest, or Qomolangma, also called Chomolungma, the world's highest mountain above sea level at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft), is located in the Himalayas on the Nepal (Sagarmatha Zone)-China (the northern brae in Tingri County of Tibet) border. Mt. Everest, as the dominant peak of Himalayas, is regarded as 'the Third Pole of the Earth'. Covered with snow all the year round, when the glaring sun shines on the mountain, the top part of the mountain seems like a spectacular golden pyramid, offering us a splendid picture of this holy mount.

Naming

Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh in 1865, the British Surveyor General of India at the time, who named it after his predecessor in the post, and former chief, Sir George Everest. While Mt. Evrest was called Qomolangma or Chomolangma by Tibetans for centuries. And Waugh could not spread this established local name because Nepal and Tibet were closed to foreigners at that time. In tibetan language, Qomolangma literally means 'Goddess the Third', highly was enhanced magic power and mysterious color by local people.

Meaturement

Now it is officially recognised that the 8,848 m (29,029 ft) height given by both Nepal and China. On October 9th 2005, after several months of measurement and calculation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping officially announced the height of Everest as 8,844.43 m (29,017.16 ft) with accuracy of "0.21 m (0.69 ft) by adopting the most accurate and precise measurements. This height is based on the actual highest point of rock and not on the snow and ice covering it.

The top part of the mountain is covered with snow all the year round.	Clouds and fogs cover continuous snow mountains.

Visiting Everest Base Camp

Mt. Everest owns two base camps, the south one is in Nepal and the north one in Tibet of China. The two camps are crude camps on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent. For most travelers, the base camp is a best point to appreciate the beauty of Mt.Everest. Luckily the North Base Camp has vehicle access (at least in the summer months). And Mt. Everest is over 600 kilometers away from Lhasa, so it takes over one day to reach there from Lhasa. Besides, visiting the North (Tibet-side) Base Camp required Tibet Travel Permit from the Chinese government, and ChinaTourGuide.com is honored to inform you that all services (such as needed documents, vehicles, driver, and translator) are included in our Tibet Tour Packages! Moreover, road access to the North Base Camp may be obtained from a road branching to the South from the Friendship Highway.

Everest Base Camp is a best point to view the great Mt.Qomolangma.	Prayer Flags along Friendship Highway, which is 100 km. (62 mi.) far away from Mt.Everest.