Not long ago,China will send one or two mapping experts to measure the accurate height of the Everest?痵 Peak, literally on its top, using advanced instruments, said XIN Shaohua, Deputy Director of the Dept. of Land Mapping, part of the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, at a news conference jointly held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In addition to using advanced instruments and state-of-art means to remeasure the peak height, the expedition will try to find a rock on the peak top to serve as a top marker. Experts will also measure ice and snow depth there. The measurement findings, processed and analyzed, will be verified by a legal procedure for publicizing geographic information, before unveiling to public around August 2005.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences organized a scientific expedition trip to the Everest Peak area in 1975. The State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping made an accurate measurement of the height of the peak, and had the results published upon the approval of the State Council. Last three decades have seen great changes in the Peak?痵 raising process, and in its ambient environment. Remeasurement of the peak height right on its physical top, through another scientific expedition, makes a meaningful scientific endeavor with positive social impacts.