China bans non-climbers from Mount Everest base camp

BEIJING: China has banned tourists from accessing its Mount Everest base camp in Tibet amid an ongoing campaign to clean up trash in the mountainous region, said state media Friday.

The ban applies to "ordinary tourists", not those with climbing permits, reported official news agency Xinhua. Access will be closed from areas above the Rongpo Monastery, which is about 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) above sea level, said the report, citing remarks from Kelsang, the deputy director at the nature reserve. A new camp for visitors will be set up about two kilometres from the original one, reported Xinhua. The Everest region, part of which belongs to neighbouring Nepal.