China's 25th scientific research team to Antarctica have arrived at the international conservation and research area's second Chinese Antarctic station, Zhongshan station, after travelling over 8,800 sea miles in 30 days. Some of its researchers arrived at Zhongshan station by helicopter.
The 204-member team was welcomed on arrival Tuesday by 19 members of the 24th scientific research team who stay at Zhongshan station during the winter on the southernmost continent.
The scientific research vessel, Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, is moored at sea away from the station. And preparations for unloading materials are underway on schedule. The vessel will soon leave for Melbourne, Australia, to load up more supplies.
The new research team plan to carry out 45 scientific research projects, including collecting ice samples at Dome A region and conducting basic mapping tasks.
28 inland researchers will travel over 1,300 kilometers to Dome A, where they will set up china's third base on Antarctica, Kunlun Station.
The third station will be located seven kilometres southwest of Dome A, the highest ice cap on the South Pole at more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
Most of the work for setting up Kunlun station will be completed by early next year.
(CRI November 19, 2008)