Wang Fuzhou, Konbu and Qu Yinhua (from right to left). Wang, Qu and Konbu gathered together again to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their feat on May 31, 2010. These veteran mountaineers posed for a picture in imitation of the one they took 50 years ago when they returned from the mountain to Lhasa on June 7, 1960.

Wang Fuzhou, one of the first Chinese to scale Mount Qomolangma in 1960, died in Beijing at the age of 80, Chinese mountaineering association has said in a statement.

Wang has been suffering from cerebral thrombus due to long-time mountaineering but the statement did not specify whether his death on Sunday resulted from the illness.

Wang captained the Chinese team that also consisted of Qu Yinhua and Konbu to the summit via the North Ridge on May 25, 1960, becoming the first Chinese to stand at the highest peak on earth.

In 2010, Wang, Qu and Konbu gathered together again to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their feat. These veteran mountaineers posed for a picture in imitation of the one they took 50 years ago when they returned from the mountain to Lhasa on June 7, 1960.

Chinese mountaineering association deputy director Li Zhixin said Wang's death was unexpected.

"He has been suffering from various illness but we did not expect he left so suddenly. We had arranged a vacation for him in our base this week," Li said on Monday.

"He was our hero and a pioneer in Chinese mountaineering history," Li added.

Wang's memorial ceremony will be held on Friday.