China opens Everest climb for nationals

PTI | Apr 5, 2020, 07:45 IST

BEIJING A group of Chinese mountaineers has begun an expedition on Mount Everest as China limped back to normalcy after the coronovirus outbreak. The site, however, remains closed to foreign climbers.
The peak stands on the border of China and Nepal and can be climbed from both sides. China has closed its side to foreign climbers while Nepal has cancelled all expeditions. Only Chinese climbers are permitted this spring season because of the pandemic, operators told BBC. More than two dozen Chinese climbers tackling the peak are expected to reach the advanced base camp at an altitude of 6,450 metres on Friday, expedition operators in touch with the China Tibet Mountaineering Association said.