After running through 19 countries on its international leg, the torch will embark on its three-month tour of the entire country with the first stop in Hong Kong on May 2.

The Olympic torch is to scale Qomolangma as part of the domestic leg, a side relay trying to take a second torch up Mount Qomolangma in May. When the torch is relayed over the summit, the main relay will spare one day for the feat.

The Olympic torch was designed by a Chinese aerospace company to ensure that it will stay alight at high altitude, and weather monitoring equipment has been set up on the Chinese side of the mountain to help ensure a successful ascent.

Ferocious winds and temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) at the summit are the major troubles in lighting the torch, but Chinese scientists have finished tests last year to ensure the torch can stay alight in the tough, oxygen-sparse conditions that leave even experienced climbers struggling.

"Wind is the most important factor in climbing and as for Mt. Qomolangma, there are four weather windows in May in which mountaineers can attempt to scale, namely the first week of the month, 10th to 15th, 20th to 25th and at the end of the month, so we stand a great chance of fulfilling the feat for the Beijing Olympics," said an upbeat Sun.

"It is a great honor to scale the world's highest peak and I am also proud to help test the lantern and torch one year ago."

The Chinese Mountaineering Team has scaled Mount Qomolangma for more than 10 times since the 1960 debut.

According to measurements made by scientists in 2005, the altitude of Mount Qomolangma is 8844.43 meters, 3.70 meters lower than the figure obtained in 1975.