A Nepalese man has shattered the previous mountaineering record for successfully climbing the world's 14 highest peaks, completing the feat in 189 days.

Key points: The former British army soldier commenced the record attempt earlier this year

The former British army soldier commenced the record attempt earlier this year He scaled mountain peaks across Pakistan, Nepal and China to snag the title

He scaled mountain peaks across Pakistan, Nepal and China to snag the title His photo atop Mount Everest showing summit congestion went viral in May

Nirmal Purja, 36, scaled the 8,027-metre Mount Shishapangma in China on Tuesday, which was the last of the 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres in height.

The previous record for climbing the 14 peaks was seven years, 10 months and six days.

It was set by South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho in 2013.

Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks in Kathmandu, which equipped the expedition, said Mr Purja was in good health and safely descending from the summit.

Mr Purja climbed the world's highest summit Mount Everest, pictured, in May. ( AP: Tashi Sherpa )

Climbing experts called the record a momentous achievement in mountaineering history.

"It is a great achievement for mountaineering and mountaineers and a milestone in the history of climbing," said Ang Tshering, who previously headed the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

The mountaineer joined the British army in 2003 and quit earlier this year to begin his mission of climbing all the highest peaks in record time.

He began his mission on April 23 with a climb of Mount Annpurna in Nepal.

In Nepal, he climbed Mount Annapurna on April 23, Mount Dhaulagiri on May 12, Mount Kanchenjunga on May 15, Mount Everest on May 22, Mount Lhotse on May 22, Mount Makalu on May 24 and Mount Manaslu on September 27.

Mount Manaslu is the world's eighth-highest mountain at 8,163m above sea level. ( Instagram: Nirmal Purja / Sandro Gromen-Hayes )

Mr Purja made his final climb on China's Mount Shishapangma on Tuesday. ( Instagram: Nirmal Purja )

In China, he scaled Mount Cho You on September 23 and Mount Shishapangma on October 29.

He struggled to get permission from the Chinese Government for his last climb and was allowed only after getting help from the Nepalese Government.

Mr Purja's photo of a long line of climbers just below the Mount Everest summit was widely circulated on social media in May.

It raised concerns about overcrowding and the safety of climbers waiting to summit Earth's highest point — with some criticising Nepal's decision to issue 379 climbing permits last season.

Mount Everest's 2019 climbing season was overshadowed by overcrowding. ( Supplied: Nirmal Purja )

ABC/AP