The Tibetan Mountaineering Team has been established for more than 60 years and has set a number of world mountaineering records
Challenging the limit and chasing dreams
core reading
Over the past 60 years since the establishment of the Tibet Mountaineering Team, more than 300 people have climbed Mount Everest, letting the bright five-star red flag fly on the top of the world and making great contributions to the development of world mountaineering.
With the development of the times, the connotation of mountaineering has been continuously enriched, but the spirit of bravery, perseverance, solidarity and cooperation, and bravely climbing the peak has been passed down from generation to generation.
The new generation of Tibetan climbers continue to struggle in new stages such as rock climbing, ski mountaineering, and alpine rescue, and continue to write new brilliance with unremitting efforts.
Mount Everest is the closest place to the sun on Earth.
Over the past 60 years since the establishment of the Tibet Mountaineering Team, more than 300 people have climbed Mount Everest, letting the bright five-star red flag fly on the top of the world and making great contributions to the development of world mountaineering.
The continuous upward trajectory of climbers from generation to generation is deeply in line with the development of snow-covered plateau sports.
With the development of the times, the connotation of mountaineering has been continuously enriched, but the spirit of bravery, perseverance, solidarity and cooperation, and bravely climbing the peak has been passed down from generation to generation.
The new generation of Tibetan climbers continue to struggle in new stages such as rock climbing, ski mountaineering, and alpine rescue, and continue to write new brilliance with unremitting efforts.
Writing glory on top of the world
At 4:20 on May 25, 1960, it was the moment when it was recorded in the history of Chinese sports.
Wang Fuzhou, Kampot and Qu Yinhua, three mountaineering warriors with an average age of only 24 years old, reached the summit from the north slope of Mount Everest, which is "insurmountable by birds".
It is the first time that the Chinese have set foot on the top of the highest peak in the world, and it is also the first time that a human has reached the top from the north slope of Mount Everest.
"In those days, the mountaineering equipment was very simple, and we took a human ladder without a metal ladder. Even if there was only one person, we had to climb it." The old man in Kampot still remembers the feat of that year. "The first thing after reaching the top The matter is to raise the national flag. We have to prove to the world that the Chinese can do it!”
In addition to Kampot on the summit, 9 Tibetan team members climbed to 8,500 meters above sea level, 4 people reached 8,100 meters above sea level, and 7 people reached 7,790 meters above sea level.
On the National Day in 1960, the Tibetan Mountaineering Camp with them as the main force, which was later the Tibet Mountaineering Team, was formally established.
Since then, generations of Tibetan climbers have inherited the glorious tradition and attacked one by one world mountaineering records - more than 300 people have summited Mount Everest, more than 460 people have summited peaks above 8,000 meters above sea level, and 3 people have summited all 14 altitudes in the world. Peaks above 8,000 meters, two team members completed the feat of "7+2" (climbing the highest peaks on the seven continents and reaching the North and South Poles on foot)... The data is speechless, but shocking, and outlines the 60-plus years of the Tibetan mountaineering team. course.
Just 60 years after the Chinese first climbed Mount Everest, in 2020, the members of the 2020 Mount Everest Elevation Survey Mountaineering Team measured the latest "height" of Mount Everest of 8848.86 meters.
During this process, the team members such as Pubu Dunzhu and Yuan Fudong did not hesitate to take off down gloves and oxygen masks for work regardless of the risk of frostbite.
"Everyone was focused on the measurement task and didn't realize that they stayed for 150 minutes, which also set a new record for the length of time Chinese people stayed at the summit of Mount Everest."
"From the elevation measurement of Mount Everest to the relay of the Olympic torch on the summit, there are athletes from the Tibetan mountaineering team." Sonan, the leader of the Tibetan mountaineering team, said that the Tibetan mountaineering team also carried out joint mountaineering activities with many countries and regions on behalf of China. Make mountaineering an important window for building a sports power and conducting foreign exchanges.
Show off your style in the arena
With the changes of the times, the connotation of modern mountaineering has become more and more abundant, and sports such as rock climbing and ski mountaineering have been derived.
"In addition to maintaining our advantages in alpine exploration, we must also work hard in the competitive arena," said Ngawang Tashi, deputy captain of the Tibet Mountaineering Team. In 2006, the Tibet Mountaineering Team established a rock climbing team to help many children get out of the mountains and go to global stage.
After Beijing and Zhangjiakou successfully bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the Tibetan Mountaineering Team formed a Tibetan ski training team to select outstanding athletes from cross-country skiing, single-country skiing, and single-country skiing. Snowboarding and ski mountaineering.
"In just four or five years, children have gone from not skiing at all to slowly falling in love with these sports." Ngawang Tashi said, what is particularly gratifying is that Tsering Zhandui and Yongqinglam finally Qualifying for the Beijing Winter Olympics marked a breakthrough for Tibetan athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics for the first time.
Tsering Zhandui successfully completed the qualifying event for the individual short distance (free technical) cross-country skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Although he failed to advance to the next round, the 18-year-old has gained valuable experience.
By competing with the world's top players on the same stage, he saw the gap and also saw hope.
"There is still room for improvement in the acceleration at the starting point and the sprint at the end point. Next, I will be more strict with myself and train hard."
In 2021, ski mountaineering was identified by the International Olympic Committee as an event for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, which encouraged Ngawang Tashi.
"Ski mountaineering mostly competes on natural snow, and climbing instead of taking the cable car requires high physical fitness and adaptability of athletes. We have good resources and talent advantages to carry out this project, and we look forward to the team members in the next Winter Youth Olympic Games. Make a breakthrough at the Winter Olympics and win glory for the country.”
At present, the Tibet Mountaineering Team and the China Mountaineering Association have jointly established a national ski mountaineering training team.
At the Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2020, teenager Solang Quzhen won two fourth places in the individual cross-country and sprint events in the ski mountaineering event, creating the best result for a Chinese player in this event.
"I have always had a dream of the Winter Olympics, and I hope that through my unremitting efforts, I can get closer to this dream a little bit." Solang Quzhen said.
Inject energy into project development
Behind the dazzling achievements is the increasingly mature talent training system of the Tibet Mountaineering Team.
Tibet Mountaineering School, located in the northern suburb of Lhasa, is the only professional mountaineering school in China and the second in the world.
Ngawang Tashi is the first student of the school. According to him, most of the students in the school are Tibetan teenagers who love skiing and mountaineering. They can receive systematic and professional training during the school.
So far, the school has trained more than 300 professionals such as alpine guides and collaborators, and has continuously provided reserve forces for the Tibetan mountaineering team and the high-altitude mountaineering industry.
How to promote mountaineering to the public?
The Tibet Mountaineering Conference, which the Tibet Mountaineering Team participated in, has been held for 20 consecutive sessions, attracting many mountaineering enthusiasts to climb the snow-capped mountains in Tibet.
"During the event, we will not only hold wonderful events such as skiing and mountaineering, but also carry out activities such as mountaineering training, ice and snow sports cultural exhibitions, etc., to promote the integrated development of mountaineering, sports industry and tourism industry." Suonan said.
Facing the future, the Tibetan mountaineering team actively adapts to the new situation and promotes key transformation work such as the industrialization of mountaineering activities, the normalization of alpine environmental protection, and the scientific development of alpine rescue.
Relying on the reserve of professional talents, the Tibet Mountaineering Team has vigorously carried out mountain rescue work and participated in more than 30 major rescue missions.
Sonam said: "Climbing at high altitudes is already very difficult. The team members challenged their limits in extreme environments and complex terrains, showing world-class professional mountain rescue levels and escorting mountaineering enthusiasts."
Environmental awareness is as important as safety awareness when climbing.
"'Leave nothing but footprints' has long been the motto of every team member." Suonan said that every mountaineering season, the Tibetan mountaineering team also cleans and disposes of the domestic waste in the mountains.
"We must protect the towering snow-capped mountains, blue sky and white clouds on the snow-covered plateau."
Our reporter Li Yang