Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in China's Tibet Autonomous¹ Region has banned ordinary tourists from entering its core zone to better conserve² the environment of the world's highest mountain.

 

西藏珠穆朗玛峰国家自然保护区已禁止普通游客进入珠峰核心区以更好地保护世界最高峰的生态环境。

 

But for travelers who have a climbing permit, the mountaineering activities will not be affected³, according to the reserve which was set up in 1988.

 

Covering an area of around 33,800 square km including a 10,312-square km core zone, the reserve is home to one of the world's most vulnerable ecosystems⁴.

 

Recently, a report went viral online claiming the Qomolangma base camp was "permanently⁵ closed due to heavy pollution." But local authorities denied the claim.

 

Kelsang, deputy director with the reserve's administration, said ordinary tourists are banned from areas above Rongpo Monastery⁶, around 5,000 meters above sea level. A new tent camp will be set up nearly two km away from the original one.

 

Between each April and October, villagers from Dingri County usually set up black tents at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, providing tourists accomodation as a means of earning money.

 

Though ordinary visitors can't go beyond the monastery, it won't affect them from appreciating the mountain.

 

"The new tent camp for ordinary tourists can still allow them to clearly see the 8,800-meter-plus mountain," Kelsang said.

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