Geography: Mountains

Everest

Gasherbrum I

China's vast and diverse landscape includes mountain ranges that have etched a profound mark on the nation's culture, history, and identity. The tallest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest, sits on the border between China and Nepal. Among the country’s rugged peaks, several play a vital role as primary sources of freshwater, serving as the headwaters for numerous rivers and tributaries that sustain downstream communities, agriculture, and livelihoods. Throughout China's history, these mountains have often acted as natural fortifications, offering strategic advantages and protection to ancient civilizations and dynasties while also influencing trade routes and patterns of human migration. These mountains also are symbols of strength, endurance, and resilience in Chinese folklore, literature, and art.

Explore the table below for information on China's most prominent mountains.

Highest Peaks	Elevation	Mountain Range	Type of Range
Everest	8,848 m (29,029 ft)	Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas	Fold
K2 (Chhogori or Godwin-Austen)	8,611 m (28,251 ft)	Karakoram	Fold
Lhotse	8,516 m (27,940 ft)	Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas	Fold
Makalu	8,481 m (27,825 ft)	Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas	Fold
Gasherbrum I	8,080 m (26,501 ft)	Karakoram	Fold
Broad Peak	8,051 m (26,414 ft)	Karakoram	Fold
Gasherbrum II	8,035 m (26,362 ft)	Karakoram	Fold
Shishapangma (Gosainthan)	8,027 m (26,335 ft)	Jugal/Langtang Himal, Himalayas	Fold
Gasherbrum III	7,952 m (26,089 ft)	Karakoram	Fold
Gasherbrum IV	7,925 m (26,001 ft)	Karakoram	Fold