The north slope of Mt. Qomolangma[File photo/Baidu]

Application for joining the 2016 Qomolangma north-slope climbing activity is nearing the end, Tibet Business Daily reported.

The 2016 spring Qomolangma climbing activity has been launched recently. The activity is to be held in April and May, lasting for 45-60 days. A total of 18 mountaineers will be recruited, and the application will end on Dec. 27, 2015.

"By Oct. 27, the number of applicants had basically fulfilled the quota," said head of Tibet Shengshan Climbing and Exploration Service Co., Ltd.

The expense for the entire activity will be 330,000 yuan (about 51,887 U.S. dollars), covering accommodation, transportation, alpine oxygen, health care, guide, registration, tickets to the scenic spot, camp facilities and other services, but excluding the personal expenses, according to the head.

During the period from March to October each year, Tibet Shengshan Climbing and Exploration Service Co., Ltd. organizes the activities of climbing Mt. Qomolangma, Qowowuyag and Shishabangma with an altitude of over 8,000 as well as mountains with an elevation of 7,000 and 6,000 meters respectively. In the meanwhile, high-altitude special hiking activities are also launched. Due to the earthquake occurred earlier this year, the activity of climbing Qomolangma was suspended.

Mount Qomolangma, meaning "Mother of God" in Tibetan, is the highest peak in the world, located at the China-Nepal border in the middle section of the Himalayas. There are four peaks of over 8,000 meters above the sea level and 38 ones of more than 7,000 meters around Qomolangma, which is known as the "third pole of the earth".

On May 25, 1960, three members of the Chinese team successfully climbed onto Mount Qomolangma from its north slope, the first team in this regard.