In pics: base camp of northern face of Mount Qomolangma in China's Tibet (5)

The mountain guide Sonam Tsering takes a break at the base camp of the northern face of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 26, 2019. Every year, for a few weeks, hundreds of climbers and supporting personnel come to the base camp of the northern face of Mount Qomolangma, trying to reach the summit of the tallest and most famous mountain in the world. Before starting climbing, they need to hike several times between elevations from 5,000 meters to 7,000 meters, giving their bodies some time to adapt. When this process is over, it's all up to the weather. The base camp is a popular place to wait for the window. Among the six camps on the northern face, the base camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters is the furthest cars can reach and therefor the most equipped. Besides food and accommodation, climbers can also enjoy tea and massage. They can also play football on perhaps the highest field. There's even a simple gym in the camp. Environmental protection is a priority here. Garbage sacks are given to each climbing team. Special containers are put in every camp to collect trash and sewage. The collected trash must be treated 100 kilometers away, and the only road is a zigzagging track. It is not trucks, but yaks that are generally used to make the journey. Actually yaks are vital on the mountain. Beyond the base camp, yak is the only reliable transport. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)