At 7:00 am on March 31, 2014, as complications of diabetes set in, the heart of China's first woman mountaineer reaching the summit of Mt. Qomolangma stopped beating at Wuxi Hospital in Jiangsu Province of China.

Her name was Pan Duo,75 years old. She was also world's first woman ever reached the summit from the north slope of Mt. Qomolangma.

Her loss was felt not only across China but also throughout the international mountaineering circle. Her glory remains, on the page of Chinese and global mountaineering history.

On May 27, 1975, Pan Duo and eight male mountaineers from China Mountaineering Team reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma by way of its north slope, leaving world's first women mountaineers' footprint on that summit.

General He Long is awarding medals of honor to woman mountaineer Pan Duo on Nov.2, 1961[Photo/China Tibet Online]  

Pan Duo is accepting the trophy for the "Award for the most influential figures" over 60 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China" on Aug.29, 2009 [Photo/China Tibet Online]

 
On May 27, 1975, Pan Duo and 8 male mountaineers reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma from its north slope as world's first woman mountaineer ever reached the summit. [Photo/Xinhua]   

On May 27, 1975, Pan Duo and 8 male mountaineers reached the summit of Mt. Qomolangma from its north slope as world's first woman mountaineer ever reached the summit. The photo shows Pan Duo (4th from the left) returning to the headquarters after reaching the summit [Photo/Xinhua]

Pan Duo is attending (on the left) 50th anniversary symposium that commemorates China Mountaineering Team's reaching the summit of Mt. Qomolangma for the first time in 1975 [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Pan Duo loved mountaineering since when she was young.[Photo/China Tibet Online]