KATHMANDU: At least four Chinese mountaineers have joined the elite 8000er club after they achieved the rare feat of climbing all 14 peaks above 8000 metres this autumn season, mountaineering officials said.

With their recent success on Mt Shishpangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world at 8,027 metres, Zhang Liang, Dong Hong Juan, Luo Jing and Liu Yongzong have finally ascended to the summits of all of the world's 14 mountains over 8000 metres, according to Samdu, an official at Tibet Mountaineering Association confirmed.

“Zhang Liang, Dong Hong Juan, Luo Jing, Liu Yongzhong and Jane Dan along with the Tibet Mountaineering team made to the summit of Mt Shishapangma on September 29,” he said, adding that the climbers became the first Chinese nationals to join the elite club of the world’s mountaineers.

Zhang Liang completed 14x8,000m peaks with making Mt Sishapangma central summit in 2017. “He returned back with China Tibet Mountaineering team and made to Mt Sishapangma main summit this season,” he claimed.

According to officials, Zhang’s first 8,000er summit was on Mt Cho Oyu in 2004 while Dong Hong Juan began her first 8000m from Mt Manaslu in 2012. Juan has completed all 14 peaks in six years as she scaled Mt Lhotse in spring, Broad Peak in summer and Mt Sishapangma in autumn season this year.

Yongzong has also started his first 8,000m from Mt Everest in 2009 as he scaled Mt Lhotse last spring, Broad Peak in summer and Mt Sishapangma this autumn in 2018.

“Luo Jing stared her first 8,000m peak in 2011 from Mt Manaslu and ended with Mt Sishapangma in 2018,” Samdu said. According to him, Jane Dan who began her 8,000m climbing from Mt Everest in 2017 and completed five among them till date.