Visually Impaired Person from China Becomes First in Asia to Successfully Summit Everest

Everest

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] A visually impaired person from China has become the first Asian to successfully summit Mount Everest.

According to foreign media on the 30th, Zhang Hong (46), a visually impaired person from China, safely returned to base camp on the 27th after climbing to the summit of Mount Everest at 8,848 meters. Zhang Hong is the first visually impaired person to reach the summit of Mount Everest and the third in the world.

Zhang Hong, born in Chongqing City in southern China, lost his eyesight at the age of 21 due to glaucoma. A few years later, in 2001, he was inspired by Eric Weihenmayer, an American who was the first visually impaired person to successfully climb Mount Everest. With the help of his partner, he began climbing training and finally achieved his goal this time with three guides on Mount Everest.

He said, "At first, I was very scared because I couldn't see where I was walking," and "I sometimes fell because I couldn't find a place to step." He added, "But I thought I had to face these difficulties even if it was hard," emphasizing, "Climbing involves hardships and risks, and that is the meaning of climbing."

In the United States, on the 23rd, a 75-year-old man reached the summit of Mount Everest and returned safely, breaking the record for the oldest American climber. The man is Arthur Muir (75), a former lawyer from Chicago, Illinois. The previous record for the oldest American to summit Everest was 67 years old. On the 27th, Hong Kong female mountaineer Chang Yin-hung (44) reached the summit in 25 hours and 50 minutes, setting the shortest time record for a woman.