A single mother from Hunan province crested the peak of Mount Godwin-Austen, also known as K2, on July 26, becoming the first Chinese woman to climb to the top of the second-highest mountain in the world, chinanews.com reported on Monday.

Luo Jing started outdoor hobbies in 2002 and took up mountain climbing in 2007. She conquered six 8,000-meter-plus mountains before tackling the peak of K2.

In addition to Luo, another 19 climbers reached the summit of K2 in the attempt, including six females from Nepal and six from Italy. The expedition took 41 days.

"I enjoy challenging mountains that offer me an immense sense of achievement. All climbers have to stand at the same starting line without gender distinctions, which is an ideal situation for me," Luo said.

Luo phoned her 9-year-old son as soon as she reached the peak.

"I cried happy tears because I made it," she said.

Luo is the fourth amateur climber from China to reach the summit.

K2, at 8,611 meters above sea level, is the world's second-highest mountain after Qomolangma (8,848 meters), known as Mount Everest in the West. Data shows the fatality rate on K2 is 27 percent, twice that on Qomolangma, the report said.