Xia looks at the photos and recalls the experience of climbing Qomolangma.[Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

"Although I stayed on the summit for less than 10 minutes, it took me more than 40 years to achieve my ambition," says Xia, who finally climbed the world's highest mountain on his fifth attempt - standing on the peak at 8,844 meters above sea level - to become China's first double-leg amputee to conquer Qomolangma.