Chinese scaling Everest to check if it's rising

Twenty-nine scientists and mountaineers were taking part in the mission to remeasure the world's tallest peak, the Xinhua news agency said.

The official height of the mountain, straddling China's border with Nepal, is currently 8,848 meters (29,500 feet).

It will be China's fourth such expedition following others in 1959, 1966 and 1975.

This time, the scientists would focus on the damage caused to the area by global warming in the past 30 years, Xinhua said.