Liu Lianman (Chinese: 刘连满; pinyin: Liú liánmǎn; December 1933 – 27 April 2016) was a Chinese mountain climber known as the "human ladder of Mount Everest".

Liu Lianman
Born
刘连满

December 1933
Died27 April 2016 (aged 82)
Occupationmountain climber
Known for"human ladder of the Mount Everest"

Biography edit

Liu was born in Ninghe County, Hebei (now part of Tianjin) in 1933. He was selected to the Chinese Mountaineering Team in 1955. While training in the Soviet Union, he reached the summit of Mount Elbrus and Muztagh Ata (making the first ascent in the world) in 1956.[1] He became one of the first Chinese to reach the summit of Mount Gongga in June 1957.[2]

In May 1960, Liu and his teammates Wang Fuzhou, Qu Yinhua and Gongbu tried to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest via the north ridge. Liu volunteered to be a human ladder when the team reached the Second Step, which helped his teammates become the first to reach Everest's peak via the north face.[1] Although failing to reach the summit, he was soon thereafter described as the "human ladder of Mount Everest" and was awarded a National Sports Medal of Honor.[3] His heroic story Climb to the Top of the Earth (登上地球之巅) was included in the Chinese textbook of junior high school.[4] He retired from mountain climbing in 1973 and worked at Harbin Electrical Machine Factory.

Liu died on 27 April 2016 at the age of 82 in Harbin.[5]

Achievements edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "走近登山英雄刘连满 淡泊名利过一生辉煌后黯淡" (in Chinese). sohu.com. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ^ "中国登山队首登贡嘎山50周年纪念活动在成都举行" (in Chinese). Xinhua Net. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  3. ^ "珠峰上的人梯——记中国第一代登山运动员刘连满" (in Chinese). dbw.cn. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. ^ "关注刘连满 不止在课本上" (in Chinese). ifeng.com. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  5. ^ ""珠峰人梯"登山英雄刘连满逝世" (in Chinese). sina.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.