China on Wednesday unveiled its grand plans for Mount Everest as it aims to boost tourist numbers on the world's highest mountain. The Chinese government has reportedly made its mind to build a huge tourist complex at the base of Qomolangma in Gangkar, which falls on the Tibetan side of the mountain. 

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The sprawling tourist complex will include a museum, hotel, and several shops for the mountaineers. Reports in Chinese media also suggested that the government is planning to build a helipad in Gangkar with an aim to help officials in conducting quick rescue operations.

The government will pump $14.7 million in this ambitious Mount Everest project. The construction work is set to start in the beginning of 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2019.  

However, China's plan to turn the Tibetan side of Mount Everest into a tourist hotspot is already facing flaks from environmentalists and other critics. They argued that a tourist complex will help in drawing in rich tourists but not serious mountain climbers.

In the past, environmentalists often accused that huge growth of tourist numbers led to several problems for the Himalayan Mountain, including wastage and leftover problems as well as other environmental hazards.

The inflow of tourists in the Gangkar side of Mount Everest has also been affected by political issue of Tibet. The alleged insurgent activities in the autonomous region and the Dalai Lama's rising popularity in the west have had severe impact on the tourist numbers.

Traditionally, mountain climbers and tourists preferred to climb the Mount Everest summit from the Nepalese side.  The Chinese government, however, aims to change this through this ambitious project.     

Tagschina, Mount Everest, Mount Everest Summit, Tourists Mount Everest