China's 41st Antarctic expedition team recently departed from the Zhongshan Station, a Chinese research base in Antarctica, heading toward the inland areas for a series of scientific research projects.
Among them, 17 team members will travel past the Taishan Station before reaching the Kunlun Station, located at an elevation of 4,087 meters on the highest point of the Antarctic ice sheet, where they will carry out various scientific investigations.
"Our team will travel to the Kunlun Station, located 1,260 kilometers from the Zhongshan Station. We will conduct environmental surveys along the way, as well as research on space physics and multi-dimensional astronomical observations at the Kunlun Station. Additionally, we will verify the performance of domestically-made snow sledges and high-pressure oxygen chambers in the field," said Jin Xinmiao, head of both the Kunlun and Taishan stations.
Meanwhile, another eight team members will head for the Grove Mountains in east Antarctica, an area with an average altitude exceeding 2,000 meters.
"We will conduct ice radar and phase-sensitive radar surveys in the Qilin Subglacial Lake," said Yao Xu, one of the team members.
As the second-largest buried lake discovered so far in Antarctica, the Qilin Subglacial Lake was named by China in 2022 and is located in the Princess Elizabeth Land in the East Antarctic inland ice sheet.
The Chinese expedition team will also conduct active-source seismic measurements, GNSS monitoring, and material balance observations in the Qilin Subglacial Lake, as well as the collection of snow and ice samples. The data will provide scientific basis for selecting drilling sites for subglacial lake exploration.
The Qilin Subglacial Lake, located beneath 3,600 meters of ice, is characterized by extreme conditions, including high pressure, darkness, low temperatures, and low nutrients. Over the past 3 million years, it has remained a stable site ideal for cutting-edge scientific research on life processes in extreme environments, the evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet, and climate change on Earth.
Moreover, the lake serves as a valuable analog between early Earth environments and extraterrestrial bodies, providing crucial reference for understanding the evolution of life on Earth and for the search for extraterrestrial life.
Chinese expedition team heads for Antarctic interior for scientific research
Spring Festival celebrations have taken place in many parts of the world over the past few days to welcome the Year of the Horse, with vibrant festivities highlighting the growing global appreciation of Chinese culture.
As part of the international "Happy Spring Festival" program, gala events and temple fairs were staged across multiple countries to mark China's most important traditional holiday.
In Berlin, the 2026 Year of the Horse "Happy Spring Festival" Gala was held at its City Hall, drawing more than 300 Chinese and German guests from political, business and cultural circles. Lion dances, traditional opera, and folk music performances filled the historic venue with festive spirit.
"The important thing is that we have had a wonderful experience celebrating Chinese Spring Festival in Berlin. This also underpins the friendship between Beijing and Berlin. I sincerely wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, filled with joy, good fortune, and, most importantly, good health. May we all have a bright future," said Oliver Friedrich, state secretary of Berlin Senate Administration.
"I wish all Chinese a happy Spring Festival and a joyous family reunion," said Vice President of German Tourism Association Ulrike Katz.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a lively Spring Festival temple fair brought Chinese New Year traditions to the Southern Hemisphere country. Dragon and lion dances, martial arts performance, and traditional Chinese dances captivated large crowds, and the promo video of China's symbolic festive show, the CMG Spring Festival Gala, was screened during the event.
"I have followed the Spring Festival Gala for four or five years. It is marvelous that China's Spring Festival Gala can last for so many years and getting better and better. It is remarkable," said local resident Eugenia Benetta.
Singapore hosted the 2026 "Happy Spring Festival" gala as well as a cultural exhibition celebrating the Year of the Horse, where Singaporean and Chinese artists presented performances blending heritage and innovation. The Singapore Calligraphy Association also organized national calligraphy and spring couplets exhibitions to share festive blessings.
Brazil's Sao Paulo City recently held a "Happy Spring Festival" carnival, bringing the joy of the Chinese New Year to the local people, where the performances by local Chinese martial arts students underpinned the deep engagement between the two cultures.
Celebrations also extended to New York City, where a "Taste of China" cultural event showcased traditional crafts and Chinese cuisine.
In Nairobi, Kenya, a themed temple fair invited residents to experience Chinese traditions in a joyful and welcoming atmosphere.
"During this special occasion of Chinese festival, Spring Festival of the gala 2026, this is a special moment for us here as Kenyans to eye how you make it so vibrant. For us, we admire the culture itself. We're so happy to be in this festival," said Alex, a local participant in Nairobi.
Spring Festival celebrations held in many countries to boost cultural exchange
