China launches new survey to measure height of Mt Everest

China, which differs with Nepal over the height of Mount Everest, has begun a new survey to measure the altitude of the world's highest peak.

A measurement team from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the national mountaineering team has arrived at the base camp of the peak for training on mountain climbing and surveying skills in the high-altitude region, making preparation for the measurement planned in May, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

A 53-member team from the MNR have conducted preliminary levelling, gravity, global navigation satellite system and astronomical surveys since March 2.

The measurement mission of Mount Everest is being organised by the MNR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Administration of Sport and government of Tibet Autonomous Region.

China's new survey to measure the height of Mt Everest is significant as its calculation of the world's highest peak is four metres less than Nepal's measurement.

The Chinese official media in 2018 has ...