Gongbu (Chinese: 贡布; 1933 – 8 December 2024), also known as Konbu, Gonbu, or Gonpa, was a Chinese mountaineer who was the eighth person and first Tibetan to summit Mount Everest.[1]
Early life and climbing
editGongbu was born in 1933. He joined the People's Liberation Army in 1956, and then a mountaineering team in 1958,[2] consisting of both Chinese and Soviet mountaineers. For the next two years, the Chinese government planned a climb of Everest: Gongbu was assigned to logistics and road-building. One Chinese team failed to summit after reaching 8,300 metres (27,200 ft), Gongbu was assigned to the next team.[1]
Finally, in May 1960, the Chinese team with Gongbu managed to perform the first climb of Everest from the north side. Prior expeditions had turned back at the Second Step, but Gongbu's team used technical methods to overcome the challenge.[1]
After the climb, Gongbu met Mao Zedong, and became a deputy director of the Sports Commission of Tibet.[2]
Personal life and death
editGongbu was married to Bai Ma (白玛).[3] He died on 8 December 2024, at the age of 91.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Gongbu aka Konbu aka Gombu, aka Gonpa". EverestHistory.com.
- ^ a b "Gonpo: first Chinese atop Mount Qomolangma". CCTV. 14 October 2009.
- ^ "永不停歇的"攀登者"——记人类第一个从北坡登顶珠峰的民族登山英雄贡布－文史纵横－理论频道－中工网". theory.workercn.cn. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "登山家贡布逝世，曾创造从北坡攀登珠峰的伟大壮举". news.qq.com. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.