China closes Everest base camp to tourists until further notice to tackle mountain of rubbish
- Ordinary visitors will be able to go to areas around Rongpo monastery, but only those with climbing permits can go to the base camp and higher
- The ‘indefinite’ move was confirmed after reports circulated online that the popular area had been permanently shut down
The Mount Everest base camp in Tibet will be closed to all tourists until further notice to clear the garbage that has piled up, Chinese officials say.
The decision, officially announced last month, came to public attention in the past couple of days after reports claiming the base camp of the world’s highest mountain had been permanently shut down went viral.
On Thursday, state news agency Xinhua quoted Kelsang, deputy director of the Mount Everest reserve’s administration, as saying ordinary tourists would be allowed to visit areas around Rongpo monastery, at almost 5,000 metres above sea level. Those with climbing permits would be allowed to go to the base camp, at an altitude of 5,200 metres, and higher.
The limited number of climbers allowed in would also be required to meet stricter rules to protect the environment, an official from the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) told the South China Morning Post.
“The key area [of the reserve] will be closed for tourism for an indefinite period, mainly for ecological conservation,” Tang Wu, from the tourism commission of Tingri county, which is home to Mount Everest, told PearVideo on Wednesday.