During the New Year’s holiday, members of China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition team, far away in Antarctica, remained at their posts amidst the ice and snow. After departing from the unloading point in the peripheral waters of Zhongshan Station on December 14, 2025, and following a full two weeks of sailing, the «Xue Long» (Snow Dragon) icebreaker arrived as planned at the Qinling Station, where unloading operations are currently underway.

After setting sail from the peripheral waters of Zhongshan Station, the expedition team’s journey was not entirely smooth. Before the «Xue Long» prepared to leave the unloading operation point, the «Xue Long 2,» which had gone ahead to scout the path, was uncharacteristically silent.

From the fast ice zone of the Prydz Bay to the peripheral pack ice zone, the two ships traveled together. However, Antarctic weather changes rapidly, and the ice zones along the route became increasingly dense. The «Xue Long 2,» responsible for leading the way through icebreaking, also faced a challenging passage.

As time passed, the pack ice ahead showed signs of loosening. After several consecutive forward thrusts, the «Xue Long» pushed through the pack ice and successfully entered the water channel ahead. One day after the «Xue Long» broke free, the «Xue Long 2» also found a new water channel and left the pack ice zone.

Subsequently, the «Xue Long» headed east, and the «Xue Long 2» headed west, each carrying out their respective expedition missions. After two weeks of sailing, the «Xue Long» arrived as planned at Qinling Station. For the 38 team members aboard destined for Qinling Station, this marked the true beginning of their expedition work.

Zhongshan Station

Zhongshan Station is China’s first research station in Antarctica, established in February 1989 on the Larsemann Hills. It serves as a key hub for scientific research in fields like glaciology and marine biology. The station is named in honor of Sun Yat-sen, a pivotal revolutionary leader in modern Chinese history.

Xue Long

«Xue Long» (雪龙), meaning «Snow Dragon,» is the name of China’s first polar research icebreaker, commissioned in 1993. It has played a crucial role in numerous Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions (CHINARE), serving as a floating research base and supply ship for stations like the Great Wall Station. The vessel symbolizes China’s growing scientific presence and logistical capabilities in polar exploration.

Qinling Station

Qinling Station is China’s third Antarctic research station, located on Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay. It was officially opened in February 2014 and is designed for year-round operation, supporting scientific research in fields such as glaciology and marine ecology. The station is named after the Qinling Mountains, a significant east-west mountain range in central China.

Xue Long 2

«Xue Long 2» is China’s first domestically built polar research icebreaker, commissioned in 2019. It is the successor to the original «Xue Long» and serves as a vital platform for scientific expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic, significantly enhancing China’s capabilities in polar research and logistics.

Prydz Bay

Prydz Bay is a deep embayment on the coast of East Antarctica, located in the Australian Antarctic Territory. It is primarily known as a key scientific research area, with several nations operating research stations along its shores to study climate, geology, and marine ecosystems. The bay was first charted in 1931 by the British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) and was later named for the Norwegian whaler and explorer Hans Christian Petersen, though «Prydz» honors his birthplace in Norway.