Rongbuk Glacier in Tingri County, Shigatse
Chinese Name：绒布冰川
English Name：Rongbuk Glacier
Location: Located in Tingri County(定日县) ，Shigatse Prefecture（日喀则市）,Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Admission fee: Free
Opening hours: All day
About Rongbuk Glacier
Rongbuk Glacier is located in the Himalaya (喜马拉雅山) of southern Tibet. Two large tributary glaciers, the East Rongbuk Glacier and the West Rongbuk Glacier, flow into the main Rongbuk Glacier. It flows north and forms the Rongbuk Valley(绒布山谷) north of Mount Everest(珠穆朗玛峰). The famous Rongbuk Monastery(绒布寺) is located at the northern end of the Rongbuk valley. Mount Everest is the source of the Rongbuk Glacier and East Rongbuk Glacier.
History and Development of Rongbuk Glacier
The English climber George Mallory first explored the main Rongbuk Valley and its glacier while searching for possible routes to the summit of Mount Everest during the first British Everest reconnaissance expedition of 1921.
The East Rongbuk glacier was first explored by Edward Oliver Wheeler in August 1921 on the same expedition. Wheeler’s exploration below the Lhakpa La pass led him on 3 August 1921 to realise that the East Rongbuk valley provided the key to a viable route to the summit of Everest. A few weeks later a party consisting of George Mallory, Guy Bullock and Oliver Wheeler explored the head of the valley via the Lhakpa La pass to become the first people to reach the North Col(北坳) of Everest and set foot on the slopes of that mountain. See 1921 British Reconnaissance Expedition. Climbing expeditions attempting the normal route from Tibet use this glacier to reach the Advanced Base Camp(先进的大本营) of Mount Everest at the upper end of the East Rongbuk Glacier. From there, climbing expeditions try to summit Everest by the North Col and the northeast ridge.
Main Attractions- East Rongbuk Glacier and West Rongbuk Glacier
The glaciers are mixed, magnificent rare ice forest, ice cream, ice bridge, ice tower and other strange, beautiful secenery. There are as many as tens of meters of ice cliffs and stepping trails of light and dark ice cracks, as well as the dangers of the collapse of the avalanche area. Ice mushrooms, large stones are supported by thin icicles, and some up to 5 meters. Ice bridge is like a crystal link, connecting two scarps, as if intentionally two scarps “Paul media take the line.” Ice wall steep erect, like a huge screen, daunting.
Attraction Transportation
You can fly to Lhasa Kongga International Airport(拉萨贡嘎国际机场）and then take the bus to Shigatse（日喀则）. And then you can drive by yourself or follow the leader to the Base Camp.
Attraction Travel Tips
1. Traveling Hours: More than 2 days
2. Traveling Seasons: All year
3. High Altitude Sickness Avoiding: Bring enough water and some thick clothes, eating more fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and so on.
4. Taking some good professional climbing equipments and trying to participate as a team in order to your safety.
