On April 10, China’s polar research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong berthed at the dock of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Base, marking the successful conclusion of the 40th China’s Antarctic expedition sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources. On the same day, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Shandong Provincial Government co-hosted a welcoming ceremony. The ceremony was followed by a three-day-long open day session, in which the public could visit Xuelong in person.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s polar expedition. Having Xuelong berthed in Qingdao for public visits constitutes an important part of the commemoration. As a major Chinese city of maritime scientific research and polar expedition, Qingdao has close ties with Antarctic expedition. Since China launched the first Antarctic expedition in 1984, over the four decades, Qingdao has deeply involved in polar expeditions, contributed its share to the building of China’s Antarctic scientific expedition station and helped these expeditions secure substantive results and make more progress.  (Li Xunxiang)

On the early morning of April 10, Xuelong, the research vessel and icebreaker concluding China’s 40th Antarctic expedition, slowly berthed at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center.  By Han Xing