China tells Nepal: Halt Everest trips till May China has asked Nepal not to allow climbers to scale Mount Everest during the popular spring season, officials said today, as Beijing grows increasingly concerned over possible Olympics protests on the world’s highest peak. Beijing may be worried that Tibetan activists will disrupt its plans to carry the Olympic torch up to Everest’s 8,850-metre summit. China has not released an date for the planned ascent, but preparations point to late April or early May. Nepali officials said a decision should be reached soon on whether to approve Beijing’s request to shut down climbing on Everest until May 10. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said China made the request last month. Expeditions from the Chinese side of the peak have already been banned until May 10, with authorities saying they are concerned about “heavy climbing activities and pressure on the environment.” Everest straddles the political border between Chinese-controlled Tibet and Nepal, home to Tibetan exiles and activists. Beijing’s request comes as China’s much-criticised rule of Tibet, long a hot-button issue, heats up. Earlier this week, hundreds of Tibetan exiles in Kathmandu protested against Chinese rule of Tibet. They clashed with police, who fired tear gas and used batons to break up the demonstration. May is considered the best time to climb Everest, but climbers have to be on the mountain weeks before to acclimatise to the harsh weather and high altitude.