LHASA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China plans to clean up Mt. Qomolangma in the first half of next year amid concerns about environment protection, an official said on Sunday.

    Rubbish left by climbers and tourists on the world's highest peak, which straddles China and Nepal, will be cleared away, said Zhang Yongze, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Bureau of Environment Protection.

    "We need to limit the number of people who want to climb Mt. Qomolangma, who exert a negative impact on the environment. We will also need to strengthen management of commercial activities involving it," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

    "We don't want so many visitors to 'disturb' the peak," he said.

    In addition to human activities, global warming has led to the shrinking of the glacier, he said.

    Zhang said...

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