Gongbu
- December 5, 2024
- 91 years
About Gongbu
Gongbu, 91, Chinese mountaineer.
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Full Biography
|Gongbu (Chinese: 贡布; pinyin: Gòngbù; 1933 – 8 December 2024), also known as Konbu, Gonbu, or Gonpa, born Gonpo Dorje (Tibetan: མགོན་པོ་རྡོ་རྗེ, Wylie: mgon po rdo rje), was a Chinese mountaineer who was the eighth person and first Tibetan to summit Mount Everest.
Early life and climbing
Gongbu was born in 1933. He joined the People's Liberation Army in 1956, and then a mountaineering team in 1958, consisting of both Chinese and Soviet mountaineers. For the next two years, the Chinese government planned a climb of Everest: Gongbu was assigned to logistics and road-building. One Chinese team failed to summit after reaching 8,300 metres (27,200 ft), Gongbu was assigned to the next team.
Finally, in May 1960, the Chinese team with Gongbu managed to perform the first climb of Everest from the north side. Prior expeditions had turned back at the Second Step, but Gongbu's team used technical methods to overcome the challenge.
After the climb, Gongbu met Mao Zedong, and became a deputy director of the Sports Commission of Tibet.
Personal life and death
Gongbu was married to Bai Ma (白玛). He died on 8 December 2024, at the age of 91.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongbu_(mountaineer)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Gongbu's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year was the mountaineer Gongbu born?
- A.1958
- B.1933correct
- C.1960
- D.1956
The biography explicitly states that Gongbu was born in 1933.
Source: Early life and climbing section
2.What was the original name given to Gongbu at birth?
- A.Gonpo Dorjecorrect
- B.Gonbu
- C.Konbu
- D.Gonpa
Gongbu was born with the name Gonpo Dorje.
Source: Biography introduction
3.In what year did Gongbu join the People's Liberation Army?
- A.1960
- B.1956correct
- C.1933
- D.1958
Gongbu joined the People's Liberation Army in 1956.
Source: Early life and climbing section
4.What role was Gongbu initially assigned during the Chinese government's planned Everest climb?
- A.Translator
- B.Chief photographer
- C.Team leader
- D.Logistics and road-buildingcorrect
Gongbu was initially assigned to logistics and road-building for the planned Everest climb.
Source: Early life and climbing section
5.What was the nationality of the mountaineers in the team Gongbu joined in 1958?
- A.Chinese and Indian
- B.Chinese and Tibetan
- C.Chinese and Sovietcorrect
- D.Chinese and Nepalese
The mountaineering team Gongbu joined in 1958 consisted of both Chinese and Soviet mountaineers.
Source: Early life and climbing section
6.Which mountain did Gongbu climb in May 1960?
- A.Makalu
- B.Lhotse
- C.Mount Everestcorrect
- D.K2
In May 1960, the Chinese team with Gongbu performed the first climb of Everest from the north side.
Source: Early life and climbing section
7.What significant climbing obstacle did Gongbu's team overcome that previous expeditions could not?
- A.The South Col
- B.The Hillary Step
- C.The Second Stepcorrect
- D.The Khumbu Icefall
Previous expeditions turned back at the Second Step, but Gongbu's team successfully overcame it.
Source: Early life and climbing section
8.Which political leader did Gongbu meet after completing his historic climb?
- A.Hua Guofeng
- B.Mao Zedongcorrect
- C.Zhou Enlai
- D.Deng Xiaoping
After the 1960 climb, Gongbu met with Mao Zedong.
Source: Early life and climbing section
9.What official position did Gongbu hold after his historic Everest climb?
- A.Governor of Tibet
- B.Head of the Mountaineering Association
- C.Minister of Athletics
- D.Deputy director of the Sports Commission of Tibetcorrect
Following the climb, Gongbu served as a deputy director of the Sports Commission of Tibet.
Source: Early life and climbing section
10.What was the name of Gongbu's wife?
- A.Mei Ling
- B.Bai Macorrect
- C.Zhang Wei
- D.Li Hua
Gongbu was married to a woman named Bai Ma.
Source: Personal life and death section
11.On what date did Gongbu pass away?
- A.15 May 2024
- B.12 January 2024
- C.8 December 2024correct
- D.20 November 2024
Gongbu died on 8 December 2024.
Source: Personal life and death section
12.How old was Gongbu at the time of his death?
- A.89
- B.90
- C.91correct
- D.92
Gongbu died at the age of 91.
Source: Personal life and death section
13.Gongbu was the first person of which origin to summit Mount Everest?
- A.Soviet
- B.Tibetancorrect
- C.Nepali
- D.Chinese
Gongbu is recorded as the first Tibetan to summit Mount Everest.
Source: Biography introduction
14.What was the height reached by the Chinese team that failed to summit Everest before Gongbu's successful team?
- A.8,300 metrescorrect
- B.8,500 metres
- C.7,500 metres
- D.8,000 metres
The text notes that a previous Chinese team failed to summit after reaching 8,300 metres.
Source: Early life and climbing section
15.From which side did Gongbu's team perform the climb of Mount Everest?
- A.The east side
- B.The south side
- C.The north sidecorrect
- D.The west side
Gongbu's team performed the first climb of Everest from the north side.
Source: Early life and climbing section
16.Which of these names was also used to identify Gongbu?
- A.Gongbo
- B.Gongba
- C.Gonpacorrect
- D.Gongbin
Gongbu was also known by the names Konbu, Gonbu, or Gonpa.
Source: Biography introduction
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