Conquering Mount Everest: China invests big in Tibetan alpine tourism

A tourism centre is set to be built in China near the north slope of the Mount Everest (pictured)

China has announced an ambitious plan to develop alpine tourism in a small Tibetan town surrounded by the world's highest peaks.

A 100 million yuan ($14.7 million) tourism centre has been planned in Gangkar town near the northern slope of the Mount Everest to attract climbers who wish to conquer the top of the world. Chinese officials also hoped the new plan would make Tibet a new international destination for alpine skiing.

The center will cover an area of about 84,320 square meters. The new facility, expected to be completed in 2019, is due to provide services to a range of adventurous travellers - from mountaineers, skiers to paragliders.

The ambitious project will be carried out in Gangkar, also known as Gangga (pictured)

At an altitude of 4,300 metres (14,107 feet), the Gangkar town is situated on the China-Nepal border and has around 6,360 residents.

The town is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, such as 8,848-metre Everest (29,029 feet), 8,188-metre Cho Oyu (26,864 feet), 8,516-metre Lhotse (27,940 feet) and 8,485-metre Makalu (27,838 feet).

Thanks to its advantageous location, Gangkar is already a base for many mountaineers during their attempts to ascend the towering peaks from the northern side in China.