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Tibet - Xizang

  55 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater

According to our research, the People's Republic of China has 178 ultra-prominent summits.  This is equal to almost 12% of the world's total, and ranks China as #1 in this category.  33 of these summits appear to be directly on the border with a neighboring country:  Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, North Korea, or Vietnam.

In order to best display the data, we are presenting the mountains of China on four lists:
China I - Tibet (Xizang)
China II - Sinkiang (Xinjiang)
China III - Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces
China IV - Central and Eastern China, including Taiwan and Korea

Additionally, there is a  high degree of overlap between the Tibet and Sinkiang lists and the High Asia I (Karakoram) and High Asia II (Central Himalaya) lists.

It is not our intention to make misleading statements about the proper borders in areas disputed between China, India, Pakistan and Bhutan.  We apologize if for any errors of international borders, and are happy to be notified with corrections.

The four lists that comprise China reflective extensive research into names, elevations and promience values conducted over a period of several years.  China is completely mapped at 1:50,000 scale, but these maps are heavily restricted to the public and we have unfortunately not had access to much of this information.  Information about source material is in the footnotes below.     

Compiled 2003-6 by Jonathan de Ferranti, Eberhard Jurgalski and Aaron Maizlish.  List ©2006 www.peaklist.org

firest release:  March 12, 2006
Rank
 Summit Name
 Alt. Names
 Province
 Country
 Elevation
 Prominence
 Saddle
 Latitude
 Longitude
 ID Code
 Elev
(ft.)
 Prom
(ft.)
 Notes

1 Mt. Everest Sagamartha, Qomolangma Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 8848 8848 0 27º59'18"N 086º55'27"E AS001 29028 29028 [1]
2 Namcha Barwa I Namjagbarwa Feng Tibet China 7782 4106 3676 29º37'45"N 095º03'21"E AS008 25531 13471
3 Kangkar Pünzum
Bhutan/Tibet Bhutan/China 7570 2995 4575 28º02'54"N 090º27'15"E AS037 24836 9826 [3]
4 Gyalha Peri Gyalha Bairi Feng Tibet China 7294 2942 4352 29º48'51"N 094º58'06"E AS042 23930 9652
5 Xixabangma Feng Shisha Pangma Tibet China 8027 2897 5130 28º21'12"N 085º46'48"E AS050 26335 9504
6 Gurla Mandhata Naimona'nyi Feng Tibet China 7694 2788 4906 30º26'09"N 081º17'45"E AS061 25242 9147
7 Bairiga Ruoni Tibet China 6882 2444 4438 29º09'57"N 096º43'27"E AS111 22578 8018
8 Makalu Makaru Shan Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 8485 2378 6107 27º53'24"N 087º05'18"E AS107 27838 7802 [8]
9 Yangra Kangri Ganesh I Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 7422 2352 5070 28º23'33"N 085º07'48"E AS112 24350 7716
10 Cho Oyu
Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 8188 2340 5848 28º05'48"N 086º39'36"E AS118 26863 7677 [10]
11 Nyainqêntanglha Feng Nyanchen Thanglha Tibet China 7162 2239 4923 30º22'03"N 090º35'06"E AS138 23497 7346
12 Kawagebo Moirigkawagarbo, Kawa Karpo Tibet/Yunnan HP China 6740 2232 4508 28º26'18"N 098º41'00"E AS135 22113 7323
13 Sepu Kangri
Tibet China 6956 2213 4743 30º54'15"N 093º47'15"E AS151 22821 7260
14 Kangtö Kanggardo Rize Arunachal Prad./Tibet China/India 7060 2195 4865 27º51'54"N 092º31'57"E AS146 23162 7201
15 Norin Kang Noijinkangsang Tibet China 7206 2160 5046 28º56'54"N 090º10'42"E AS150 23641 7087
16 Chomolhari
Bhutan/Tibet Bhutan/China 7050 2086 4964 27º49'27"N 089º16'09"E AS113 23130 6844 [16]
17 Pauhunri Paohanri Sikkim/Tibet China/India 7128 2030 5098 27º57'12"N 088º50'33"E AS190 23386 6660
18 Reo Purgyil
Himachal Prad./Tibet China/India 6816 1978 4838 31°53'05"N 078°44'08"E
AS250 22362 6489 [18]
19 Lapche Kang Lobuche Kang, Labujikang Tibet China 7367 1957 5410 28º18'15"N 086º21'03"E AS225 24170 6421
20 Liushi Shan "Kunlun Goddess" Tibet/Xinjiang China 7167 1946 5221 35º18'57"N 080º54'57"E AS236 23513 6384
21 Lunpo Gangri Loingbo Kangri Tibet China 7095 1941 5154 29º50'00"N 084º36'48"E AS235 23277 6368
22 P. 5841
Tibet China 5841 1934 3907 28º54'15"N 098º23'03"E AS240 19163 6345
23 Shakangsham Xiakangjian Tibet China 6822 1914 4908 31º41'48"N 085º03'48"E AS278 22382 6279
24 Gya
Himachal Prad./Tibet China/India 6794 1910 4884 32º31'33"N 078º24'00"E AS251 22290 6266
25 BANGONG
Tibet China 6260 1879 4381 33º28'54"N 079º20'12"E AS270 20538 6165
26 Unknown Name
Tibet China 6327 1863 4464 29º06'54"N 097º04'39"E AS275 20758 6112
27 Yarla Shampo
Tibet China 6636 1805 4831 28º48'00"N 091º57'54"E AS238 21771 5922
28 Nyönno Ri Amachibma Tibet China 6724 1801 4923 28º12'12"N 087º36'27"E AS204 22060 5909
29 Nganglong Kangri Aling Kangri Tibet China 6720 1772 4948 32º48'30"N 081º00'03"E AS145 22047 5814
30 Damyon
Tibet China 6324 1759 4565 29º10'51"N 098º27'36"E AS206 20748 5771
31
 Tongshanjiabu
Bhutan/Tibet
 Bhutan/China
 7207
 1757
 5450
 28º09'18"N
090º03'45"E
AS288
 23645
 5764
32 Nyegyi Kansang
Arunachal Prad./Tibet China/India 7047 1750 5297 27º56'12"N 092º40'00"E AS340 23120 5741
33 Unknown Name
Arunachal Prad./Tibet China/India 5980 1747 4233 29º19'21"N 094º44'57"E AS342 19619 5732
34 HP Baxoila Ling
Tibet China 6146 1721 4425 28º49'27"N 098º03'39"E AS281 20164 5646
35 Tsanglha Ri
Tibet China 6495 1712 4783 28º45'48"N 087º37'54"E AS445 21309 5617
36 Gauri Shankar
Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 7134 1709 5425 27º57'12"N 086º20'09"E AS378 23405 5607
37 Kubi Gangri Kaqur Kangri Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 6859 1702 5157 29º45'57"N 082º45'06"E AS379 22503 5584
38 Unknown Name
Arunachal Prad./Tibet China/India 5641 1690 3951 29º02'51"N 094º00'51"E AS395 18507 5545
39 Unknown Name
Tibet China 4911 1690 3221 28º35'57"N 098º30'09"E AS396 16112 5545
40
 Tarlha Ri
Tibet China 6777 1689 5088 28º21'48"N 091º08'09"E AS433 22234 5541
41 Unknown Name
Tibet China 6310 1673 4637 30º19'15"N 094º19'12"E AS587 20702 5489
42 Gyoinmaixoi'og Kangri
Tibet China 6223 1673 4550 33º17'45"N 079º46'00"E AS390 20416 5489
43 Bu'gyai Kangri
Tibet China 6328 1666 4662 31º48'54"N 094º42'00"E AS476 20761 5466
44 Unknown Name
Kashmir/Tibet China/India 6300 1660 4640 33º13'51"N 079º11'00"E AS434 20669 5446 [44]
45 Kula Kangri
Tibet China 7538 1650 5888 28º13'39"N 090º37'00"E AS430 24731 5413 [3]
46 Unknown Name
Tibet China 6135 1634 4501 29º56'27"N 095º44'45"E AS393 20128 5361
47 Nenang
Tibet China 6870 1630 5240 30º18'12"N 093º38'57"E AS633 22539 5348
48 Samdain Kangsang
Tibet China 6590 1614 4976 30º50'06"N 091º29'18"E AS507 21620 5295
49 Menlungtse
Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 7181 1570 5611 27º58'21"N 086º25'54"E AS527 23559 5151
50 Chomo Yummo
Sikkim/Tibet China/India 6829 1563 5266 28º02'03"N 088º32'45"E AS530 22405 5128
51 Beu-tse
Tibet China 6270 1558 4712 29º57'09"N 090º32'18"E AS586 20571 5111
52 Kazi Razi
Tibet China 6505 1555 4950 28º11'51"N 091º51'54"E AS563 21342 5102
53 Geladaindong Geladandong Tibet China 6621 1541 5080 33º29'45"N 091º10'03"E AS605 21722 5056
54 Unknown Name
Tibet China 6215 1521 4694 28º51'18"N 093º12'00"E AS693 20390 4990
55 Kotaklik Shan
Tibet China 6580 1503 5077 35º59'39"N 081º35'33"E AS606 21588 4931 [55]

E2 P. 6692
Tibet China 6692 1482 5210 30º34'43"N 094º28'06"E ASA02 21955 4862
E3 Unknown Name
Tibet China 6145 1475 4670 29º59'06"N 095º28'03"E AS508 20161 4839 [E2]
E1 Langbo Kangri
Nepal/Tibet China/Nepal 6648 1474 5174 28º29'54"N 085º09'21"E AS662 21811 4836
E4 KYAMUNA
Tibet China 5590 1472 4118 29º56'00"N 095º17'21"E AS668 18340 4829
E5 P. 6842
Tibet China 6842 1465 5377 30º20'33"N 093º54'54"E AS200 22447 4806
E6 Unknown Name
Tibet China 5780 1460 4320 29º25'24"N 094º54'00"E AS436 18963 4790 [E6]
E7 Kalurong
Tibet China 6674 1457 5217 28º51'18"N 090º12'15"E AS691 21896 4780

Sources: 

Data Sources:  This page represents years of compilation by the authors from a variety of sources including direct communication with researchers and from published material, principally 1) various mountaineering literature, 2) Soviet topographic mapping at 1:100,000 and 1:200,000,  3) extensive analysis of SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) digital elevation data, 4) names and elevations in publications by the China Mountaineering Association and in the geonames database, 5) Chinese Snow Mountain topographic map series, and 6) both commercial and national topographic surveys including the recent Finnish survey of Nepal where applicable.  We have striven to sort through extremely divergent elevation values and toponymy in order to provide a list that best reflects accurate and supportable data.  Notably, we have analyzed all published values against SRTM for reasonableness, and in many cases propose here for the first time, elevation estimates that we believe are more accurate than old survey values.

Names:  We have not been able to determine reliable placenames for a significant number of summits in China.  The tradition in Tibet and China is to give a name to an entire mountain range, and many of the less-famous peaks do not have well-known local names apart from that of their range.  Names in quotation marks are working names for unnamed summits (mostly in the Eastern Karakoram) from an unpublished 1984 study.  Names in capitals are those that we transliterated directly from the cyrillic on the Russian topographic maps, and have not thus far confirm their accuracy or pinyin spelling.  In addition, 28 peaks in China are name unknown, where we feel that the name of the larger range is not descriptive enough.  Submissions of names are welcome.

Saddle and prominence values are derived almost exclusively from SRTM data, with some reliance on Soviet mapping.  It is generally felt that these values are accurate to ±20 meters.

FOOTNOTES

[1]  Everest:  After some debate, we have elected to go with the traditional elevation of 8848 meters for Everest.  In 1999, a survey team backed by National Geographic and the Boston Museum of Science placed advanced GPS-survey equipment on the Everest summit.  Based on a week-long differential GPS reading they announced a new elevation of 8850 meters (29,035').   Reference these articles: SFAR, NGS, MountainZone.  The Bradford Washburn survey established with great accuracy the differential elevation of the rock summit beneath the snow and ice relative to a permanent survey station at South Col.  However the survey did not mention uncertainty about the geoid model in the region.  It appears that the baseline assumptions about the geoid have a deviation of at least two meters, so for the time being we will take these two elevations as equally plausible.  A 1992 survey by Washburn proposed an 8846 meter elevation.  The recent claim by China that Mt. Everest is 8844.43 meters, although sensational, further calls into question meter-level accuracy (much less sub-meter accuracy) of the conflicting geodetic vertical datums in the region.  For those of you still unconvinced, you might admire the uncertainty made explicit in this article.

[3]  Reference a lengthy analysis on the elevations and border position around Kangkar Punsum and Kula Kangri here.

[8]  Makalu is the world's fifth highest mountain and fourth highest ultra.  The 8485 meter elevation comes from the modern Finnmap survey (see note above.)  Most sources still cite the 8463 meter elevation that is found on the Schneider maps as well as the Chinese Snow Map series.  The saddle elevation is also taken from Finnmap.

[10]  Cho Oyu:   The spot elevation provided by Finnmap for Cho Oyu is 8188 meters, thirteen meters lower than the widely used 8201 meter elevation.  Cho Oyu is widely regarded as the sixth highest mountain in the world, and is the fifth highest ultra.

[16]  Chomolhari (Chomo Lhari):  The official elevation is 7314m (23,996')..  This seems very unsupportable, and suspiciously close to the round 24,000' number.  7050m is a better estimate based on SRTM and published contour maps.

[18]  Reo Purgyil:  Coordinates are of the SW peak, which appears to be slightly higher than the N peak, more data is needed.

[44]  Unknown "Kailas" - According to the Soviet maps, this peak is in the Kailash Range, but this is not to be confused with the holy Mt. Kailash (Kangrinpoqe Feng).  The 1989 "Map of Mountain Peaks of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau" gives the peak an elevation of 6219m.  SRTM indicates that it is about P6300, and  higher than a nearby peak incorrectly marked P6295 on the Russian map.

[55] Elevation of Kotaklik is derived from SRTM, higher than the published 6488.
.
[E2] Elevation uncertain: Soviet 1:200,000 topographic map gives 6240m.  American aeronautical charts give conflicting values of 6480m and 6135m (which is used.)  All of these seem wildly incompatible with the surrounding terrain that suggests it may not even reach 6000m.  We did not see the Chinese maps, thus more information is desired.

[E6] Russian map gives 5980, but entire region seems to be shifted by 200m according to SRTM; so this may be an ultra.

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