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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

First woman to scale all 14 eight-thousanders without oxygen says courage has no gender

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Renowned Chinese mountaineer He Jing, the first woman to conquer all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen, stated that courage transcends gender.
  • He Jing shared her two-decade climbing journey, emphasizing discipline and determination, and urged young climbers, especially women, to pursue ambitious goals.
  • Her achievement was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2025, and she views mountaineering as a path to understanding personal limits rather than conquering nature.

Renowned Chinese mountaineer He Jing, who achieved the historic feat of climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen, declared that courage knows no gender. Speaking at the Everest Summiteers Summit in Kathmandu, He shared reflections from her two-decade mountaineering career.

Courage has no gender

— He JingDuring her address at the Everest Summiteers Summit in Kathmandu.

She urged young climbers, particularly women, to pursue their ambitions with humility and discipline. He Jing summited Everest without supplemental oxygen in May 2022, becoming the first Chinese woman to do so. Her passion for mountains ignited in 2006, leading her to formally begin high-altitude climbing in 2012.

There is no shortcut to success. Only discipline, dedication and strong determination can keep you moving forward.

— He JingReflecting on her path to becoming the first woman to climb all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen.

"There is no shortcut to success," she stated, attributing her progress to discipline, dedication, and strong determination. Between 2016 and 2025, she completed ascents of all 14 eight-thousanders without bottled oxygen, an achievement recognized by Guinness World Records in 2025. She views mountaineering not as a conquest of nature, but as a journey of self-discovery and understanding human limits.

We cannot conquer mountains. The real challenge is understanding ourselves within the boundaries the mountains set for us.

— He JingDescribing her perspective on mountaineering.

He Jing also spoke about the isolation, mental pressure, and extreme conditions inherent in high-altitude climbing, noting how these challenges forged her mental resilience. She advised aspiring climbers to maintain an 'empty cup mindset,' staying humble and open to learning. The climber expressed gratitude to Nepal's mountaineering community, tourism entrepreneurs, and the government for fostering an environment where climbers can exchange experiences. The summit, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Everest Alliance, includes discussions on climate change, mountain communities, and technological advancements in mountaineering.

empty cup mindset

— He JingAdvising aspiring climbers to remain humble and open to learning.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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