Recently, Niu Zhibin, an alumnus of Dalian Maritime University (DMU) who enrolled in 2005 as a Marine Engineering major, successfully summited Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, standing at an altitude of 8,848.86 meters. Just one day later, Niu Zhibin secured another triumph: he successfully summited Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak at 8,516 meters.

From the summit of Everest to the summit of Lhotse, Niu Zhibin completed the consecutive ascent of two 8,000-meter-class peaks in just 27 hours—a challenge widely recognized as extremely difficult in the mountaineering community. His feat demonstrated the solid quality and tenacity of the DMU community, offering a vivid testament to the courage and perseverance of its members in overcoming adversity and reaching new heights.

“The greatest difficulty and challenge in climbing is never the visible steep slopes, lack of oxygen, or physical soreness, but the sudden onset of unknown risks and obstacles,” Niu Zhibin said in an interview. “The Hillary Step, a steep ice-rock mixed section near the summit, left an indelible mark on my memory. When we passed through the Khumbu Icefall, we had just crossed when a massive collapse thundered behind us, and we watched helplessly as an Indian climber nearby was instantly buried. After I recovered from the shock, my first thought was to rescue him.” After pulling the injured climber to safety, the team continued onward, passing a serac that seemed to remind every climber that a safe descent is the true finish line.

“Although I usually do fitness and strength training, the actual demands of climbing on endurance and leg strength are on a whole different level,” he said. To ensure a successful summit, Niu Zhibin undertook three consecutive months of physical training: every day at 4 a.m., he did one hour of stair climbing with weights while restricting oxygen intake, followed by an 8-kilometer weighted run in the evening—rain or shine, without a single day off.

With tenacious will and unwavering perseverance, Niu Zhibin finally reached the summit amid the biting winds of Everest. There, he slowly unfurled the flag of Dalian Maritime University, letting the emblem of the DMU community flutter at the highest point on Earth. “As a member of DMU, I have always dreamed of displaying the university flag at the summit of Everest, so that the DMU spirit of ‘Resolve, Rigor, Diligence, and Innovation’ could also fly atop the world. This is a source of immense pride and honor, a unique romance and privilege shared by every DMU member.”

As an alumnus of the Class of 2009 majoring in Marine Engineering at Dalian Maritime University, Niu Zhibin built a solid physical foundation and developed a resilient, self-disciplined character during the university’s semi-military management training over his four-year undergraduate journey. Even after entering the workforce and despite a busy schedule, he consistently dedicated time each morning and during lunch breaks to training and stamina building. In 2025, Niu officially embarked on his high-altitude mountaineering career, successfully summiting his first 8,000-meter peak—Manaslu, standing at 8,163 meters—that very September.

“There was a time when climbing Mount Everest felt like an impossibly distant dream. Yet today, I can say that I have stood on top of the world. To all my younger schoolmates, don’t be afraid to dream bigger and aim higher. If you are willing to dedicate yourself, persevere, and work tirelessly toward your goals, those dreams can truly become reality. The path ahead will present many ‘Khumbu Icefalls’ and ‘Hillary Steps,’ but only by traversing them will you discover a stronger, more unshakable version of yourselves! May you dedicate yourselves to your studies and continue to climb the peaks of life.” said Niu Zhibin.