Zeng Xiaoyun Becomes First Singaporean to Summit Deadly Mount Annapurna-I
Singapore mountaineer Zeng Xiaoyun has made history by becoming the first person from Singapore to reach the summit of Mount Annapurna-I — one of the world’s deadliest and most difficult mountains to climb.
Zeng reached the 8,091-metre summit on April 7 at 9:10 AM (Nepal time), together with her guide Pem Lakpa Sherpa. The climb was organised by 8K Expeditions Pvt. Ltd., a company that supports high-altitude climbs.
On social media, Zeng shared her feelings about the achievement. “Humbled to be the 1st Singaporean 🇸🇬 to summit the world’s 10th highest mountain and the ‘deadliest’ mountain. Glad that I survived,” she wrote.
Her journey to the top of Annapurna-I was not easy. Zeng said it was an “extremely emotional and intense” 10 days since she left Singapore on her birthday. She started the trip with a bad flu but recovered on the way to base camp. Incredibly, she reached the summit just eight days after arriving at base camp.
Zeng described the final push to the summit from Camp 3 (6,500m) to the top (8,091m) and back as a long and difficult 24-hour journey. Along the way, she paused at 7,500m to pay respect to Dr. Chin, a fellow Southeast Asian climber who had once waited there alone for more than 40 hours for rescue.
Sadly, Zeng also shared that during her descent, two Sherpa climbers were swept away by an avalanche. The news deeply affected her. “Annapurna I is an unforgiving mountain. I’m grateful for its acceptance and mourn for those who didn’t make it back,” she wrote.
A Growing List of Achievements
Zeng Xiaoyun’s successful climb of Annapurna-I adds to her growing list of impressive mountaineering achievements. She has already climbed some of the world’s most famous and dangerous mountains, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, K2, and Manaslu.
In July last year, she became the first Singaporean and Southeast Asian woman to summit K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, also with guide Pem Lakpa Sherpa.
Some of Zeng’s other records include:
- First Singaporean and Southeast Asian to climb Everest, Lhotse, and K2 within 70 days.
- First Singaporean and Southeast Asian to summit both Everest and K2 in the same year.
- First Singaporean and Southeast Asian woman to complete an Everest–Lhotse double summit.
- First Singaporean and Southeast Asian woman to summit Lhotse (8,516m), the world’s fourth-highest mountain.
Zeng is also an ultra-runner and paraglider, earning international respect for her strength, determination, and courage.
Her latest achievement at Annapurna-I further cements her status as one of Southeast Asia’s most inspiring and remarkable female mountaineers.
