Four people, including an Australian tourist, were killed and another foreign tour group remains missing after an unexpected snowstorm hit parts of southwestern Xigaze prefecture, Tibet autonomous region.

Three local porters were killed by an avalanche on Sunday, and a 60-year-old Australian man died from altitude stress after he was rescued. They were part of a tour group of 10 people - four Australians and six Tibetans.

The Australian man's body will be transported out of China through Zhangmu Port at the request of his relatives. The other three stranded Australians are scheduled to leave China through the Zhangmu Port on Wednesday.