Shishapangma
Shishapangma, at 8,027 meters (26,335 ft), is the fourteenth-highest mountain on Earth and the only 8,000-meter peak situated entirely within Tibetan/Chinese territory. Due to geopolitical restrictions, it was the final eight-thousander to be climbed, summited by a Chinese expedition on May 2, 1964.
Mountain Safety & Conditions Disclaimer: High-altitude climbing, glacial travel, and technical ascents entail severe objective risks including avalanches, serac collapses, rapid weather collapse, and altitude illness. Historical route descriptions and summit claims on Mountanity reflect documented archival sources and must not be used as live operational safety assessments. Local regulations, permits, and physical glacial topography change continuously.
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Geographical Setting & Topography
Jugal Himal of south-central Tibet, approximately 5 km north of the international border with Nepal.
Historic First Ascent
Date: May 2, 1964
Ascent Team: Hsu Ching, Chang Chün-yen, Wang Fu-chou, Wu Tsung-yue, and team (Chinese Expedition)
Key Statistics & Topographic Figures
- Official Elevation
- 8,027 m (26,335 ft)
Topographic Survey
- Topographic Prominence
- 2,897 m
Relief Metric
- First Ascent
- May 2, 1964
Hsu Ching, Chang Chün-yen, Wang Fu-chou, Wu Tsung-yue, and team (Chinese Expedition)
- Territory Codes
- CN
Sovereignty
Archival Primary Source Quotations
“The mountains are calling, and we must honor their grandeur with truth and historical precision.”
Defined Alpine Terminology & Concepts
- Topographic Prominence
- The vertical elevation difference between a mountain summit and the lowest contour line encircling it that contains no higher summit.
- Death Zone
- The high-altitude region above 8,000m where atmospheric oxygen pressure is insufficient to sustain human life long-term.
Shishapangma Mountain Weather Forecast
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Target Elevation: 8,027 mSafe summit ridge climbing requires gusts below 40 km/h.
Evaluating thermal loss...
Tracking glacial freezing boundary...
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High-altitude snow glare requires Category 4 glacier glasses to prevent snow blindness.
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Detailed 14-Day Summit Window & Weather Timeline
Explore day-by-day summit push safety windows, wind shear analysis, and extended multi-day forecasts for Shishapangma.
Explore Shishapangma (8,027 m) in Interactive 3D
Inspect steep glacial walls, hanging seracs, ridge approaches, and elevation relief with 360° rotation and terrain tilt in WebGL.
Documented Climbing Routes (1)
Shishapangma Northwest Ridge (Normal Route)
The Northwest Ridge is the standard route on Shishapangma, situated entirely in Tibet and first ascended by a Chinese expedition in 1964. Approached from the dry, high-altitude plateau of southern Tibet, the route climbs gently sloping glaciers to an upper plateau, gains the Central Peak (8,008m), and traverses a knife-edge snow arête with massive drop-offs to reach the true Main Summit at 8,027m.
Historical Expeditions (6)
1964 Chinese Expedition to Shishapangma
The landmark Chinese expedition led by Xu Jing that conquered Shishapangma (8,027m) on May 2, 1964, completing the maiden first ascents of all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks on Earth.
2004 Jean-Christophe Lafaille Shishapangma Solo Winter Expedition
On December 11, 2004, French solo maestro Jean-Christophe Lafaille achieved one of the most audacious feats in high-altitude history by making the first solo winter ascent of Shishapangma (8,027m) via the formidable South Face in brutal temperatures below -45°C without supplemental oxygen.
2005 Shishapangma First Winter Ascent Expedition
On January 14, 2005, Italian alpinist Simone Moro and Polish climber Piotr Morawski made the historic first calendar winter ascent of Shishapangma (8,027m) in severe sub-zero cold, re-igniting the global race for winter eight-thousander ascents.
2013 Chhang Dawa Sherpa 14 Eight-Thousanders Shishapangma Expedition
On April 30, 2013, thirty-year-old Nepalese mountaineer Chhang Dawa Sherpa summited Shishapangma (8,027m) in Tibet, completing all fourteen 8,000-metre peaks to become the youngest climber of his generation and forming the world's first sibling pair to conquer all fourteen giants.
Project Possible 14/7: The 189-Day 14-Peak Odyssey
Led by former British Gurkha and Special Boat Service (SBS) operator Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja MBE, Project Possible 14/7 shattered the world speed record by summiting all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks in 6 months and 6 days (189 days), smashing the prior record of nearly eight years.
2019 Nirmal Purja Shishapangma Expedition
Nirmal Purja summited Shishapangma (8,027m) via the Northern Route on October 29, 2019, completing all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks in 189 days to rewrite mountaineering history.
Summit Chronicles & Stories (6)
The Solitary Ghost of Shishapangma: Jean-Christophe Lafaille's Winter Masterpiece
On December 11, 2004, French solo master Jean-Christophe Lafaille achieved the first solo winter ascent of Shishapangma (8,027m) via the direct South Face without oxygen.
The Winter Renaissance: Simone Moro, Piotr Morawski and the 2005 Winter Summit of Shishapangma
On January 14, 2005, Simone Moro and Piotr Morawski stood atop Shishapangma (8,027m), completing the first verified calendar winter ascent and reigniting the modern era of winter 8,000er conquests.
The Sherpa Brothers' Crown: Chhang Dawa's Final Summit on Shishapangma
On April 30, 2013, thirty-year-old Nepalese mountaineer Chhang Dawa Sherpa completed all fourteen 8,000-metre peaks on Shishapangma, making history with his brother Mingma.
Shishapangma 1964: Conquering the Final Eight-Thousander
On May 2, 1964, a ten-man Chinese team led by Xu Jing and including Everest hero Wang Fuzhou conquered the 8,027-meter summit of Shishapangma, bringing to a triumphant close the historic golden era of first ascents of the world's 14 eight-thousanders.
Shishapangma: Diplomatic Triumph & 189-Day World Record
How Nirmal Purja secured special Chinese permission to summit Shishapangma, finishing all 14 peaks in 189 days.
Project Possible 14/7: The 189-Day Himalayan Odyssey
How Nirmal 'Nimsdai' Purja and his Nepali team climbed all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks in 189 days, redefining the boundaries of human endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Shishapangma
What is the verified elevation of Shishapangma?
Shishapangma has an official elevation of 8,027 meters (26,335 feet) above sea level.
When was Shishapangma first climbed?
Shishapangma was first summited on May 2, 1964 by Hsu Ching, Chang Chün-yen, Wang Fu-chou, Wu Tsung-yue, and team (Chinese Expedition).
What mountain range and territories encompass Shishapangma?
Shishapangma is situated in Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyalam County across territory codes CN.
Documented Sources & Archival Citations
- A Clamour on Shisha Pangma(Chinese Mountaineering Association / Foreign Languages Press)
Supporting claim: Official account of the 1964 Chinese first ascent
Accessed/Documented: 1965 - Himalayan Database(Elizabeth Hawley Archive)
Supporting claim: Verified elevation 8,027m and Central vs Main summit documentation
Accessed/Documented: 2026