The Sherpas, living in and around the Himalayan Mountains on the border between China and Nepal, are an unidentified ethnic group in China. They are known by the world as guides and porters for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. 

Though experiencing a long and complex historical process, the Sherpas managed to maintain their featured culture. 

Dressy Sherpa people are singing the melodious toasting songs. (Photo/ tibetol.cn)

According to Nyidron, a Sherpa has run a store in Zham Town bordering on China and Nepal for 19 years, “We are the legendary Sherpas. Some Sherpas live in Zham, some in Shigatse and some in other places. We speak different dialects.”    

Tibetan curry 

The staple food for Sherpa people is maize, rice, potato, noodle, deep-fried dough cake, etc. Maize is a common one, which is mainly made into corn paste and corn wine. 

The Sherpas love to drink buttered tea, sweet tea, yoghourt, corn wine, highland barley wine and liquor.  

They prefer seasonings when making dishes. Chilies and fennel are indispensable in their diet. Generally, seasonings would be mashed and eaten with rice and vegetable balls or dishes. 

The Sherpas are influenced by Nepal a lot in their daily life. They used to eat with hands but now many Sherpas residing in China are accustomed to eating with bowls and chopsticks. They eat curry rice the most. Different from Tibetan people, Sherpa people barely eat tsampa. 

Sherpa porters are of good physical stamina. (Photo/CRI Online) 

Nyima is a mountaineering guide, whose name means the sun or Sunday in Tibetan. He was named after Nyima because he was born on Sunday. Sherpa people are used to naming children’s first names after the day of the week. 

Sherpa people served as the guides and porters for British mountaineering team trekking to Mt. Qomolangma in 1921. Their expertise, loyalty and dedication have impressed people.  

Henceforth, Sherpa people have always been involved with all mountaineering in the Himalayas. Without equipment, they can put up 7,000m to 8,000m-long safety ropes and fix them on the ice. These ropes can direct the way, assist the mountaineering and protect mountaineers to a certain extent. 

Nyima said, “The mountains are over there, so is my home. For me, mountaineering is work, a way to make a living.”