The Chinese research and icebreaking vessel Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, has left Shanghai and set sail on the country’s 30th scientific expedition to Antarctica.
The 256 member team includes scientists from the mainland, Taiwan and Thailand. The team will take supplies to China’s Antarctic stations, set up a new research station, the "Taishan", and choose a site for another new station. The expedition will last 155 days.
The team is expected to return in April, 2014. China launched its first expedition to Antarctica in 1984 and has so far established three stations there.
Source: CCTV
