A Qomolangma climbing team is on their way to the peak. (File photo/Guangzhou Daily)
(ECNS) -- Mountaineering can be an expensive hobby, especially when you're aiming to conquer Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak.
The price to climb the mountain, also known as Mount Everest, has doubled from five years ago.
And since China's real estate tycoon Wang Shi conquered Mount Qomolangma, more and more of the wealthy elite view mountaineering as an opportunity to show off.
The only company in China authorized to offer guide services on Mount Qomolangma said the cost to attempt the climb is 330,000 yuan ($50,190), which includes travel expenses, a permit, insurance, equipment and guides. In reality the cost can reach as high as 400,000 yuan per person, after other charges are included.
Climbing Qomolangma has become a slick commercial endeavor, and the way to the top is paved with money. The wealthy not only have experienced Sherpa guides, the best equipment, and an abundant oxygen supply, some even hire famous chefs and photographers to make the journey a personal show.
Meanwhile, hikers who bypass the official approach face the risk of death, the Guangzhou Daily reports. Despite this, dozens of unlicensed hikers still try to reach the top this way each year.
The number of climbers who made it to the top of Mount Qomolangma increased from 20 to 2,000 during the period of 2000 to 2010. However the number dropped to less than 50 from 2013. In 2015, there was no record of a climber reaching the peak, the first time since 1975.
A long-time guide said the over-commercialization of Mount Qomolangma goes against the spirit of mountaineering, and that the pursuit should not be a rich man's game to satisfy their vanity.
While some are calling for an increase in the number of companies able to provide climbing services at lower prices, others say the number of climbers should be controlled to minimize the environmental impact on the mountain.
Rubbish, human excrement and even corpses litter the mountain, and are expensive to clear.
