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Chinese team’s feat in Antarctica

— PHOTO: Xinhua

Chinese exploration ship “Xuelong” moves against icebergs in this December 2007 file photo.

CHANGCHENG STATION (Antarctica): A scientific expedition team from China reached the height of 3,000 metres on the Antarctic on Sunday, one day after its arrival at the Changcheng (Great Wall) station in the west of the continent.

The scientists of the 24th expedition team are in good condition and the vehicles and equipment are working well.

Sun Bo, captain of the Chinese team, told Xinhua over the phone on Monday that The team reached a place at 3,156 metres above the sea level on Sunday.

The team, including 91 scientists, left China’s eastern coastal city of Shanghai on November 12 aboard the vessel “Xuelong,” or snow dragon.

It arrived at the Zhongshan station in eastern Antarctica on December 11 and headed to Changcheng on December 23.

The vessel came with supplies for Changcheng station’s largest-ever renovation.

The project includes a 1,000-square-metre building for scientific research, a recreation centre for the researchers as well as garbage and sewage treatment facilities.

China launched its first expedition to Antarctica in 1984, with such expeditions being conducted on an annual basis since then. — Xinhua

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