Climbers hoping to scale some of the world's highest peaks have welcomed plans for a massive international mountaineering center in southwestern China.

The project will be built in Gangkar township, near the northern slope of Qomolangma, or Mount Everest, in the Tibet autonomous region and is aimed at growing the mountaineering industry and local economy.

According to the regional sports bureau, the center will cater to mountaineers, skiers, paragliders and tour guides, and will feature medical services, travel agencies and a helicopter rescue base.