Nineteen Chinese mountaineers left the top of Mount Qomolangma at about 10 a.m. Beijing Time Thursday after relaying the Olympic torch on the world's highest peak.

They are expected to reach the 7,028-meter-high camp or even the 6,500-meter-high camp before the sunset.

Five mountaineers relayed the torch over the last 100 meters leading to the top for about six minutes, before the last bearer and female mountaineer Tsering Wangmo stood on the peak with the flame.

It was the Olympic flame's first trip to Mt. Qomolangma.

The mountaineers stayed at the top for about one hour.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)