Qinling Station, the newest of China's five Antarctic research outposts, is now fully equipped to support overwintering expeditions, following the completion of the main missions of the country's 41st Antarctic expedition, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Tuesday.
Chinese research icebreaker Xuelong returned to Shanghai on Tuesday after completing its mission as part of the 41st Antarctic expedition, while Xuelong 2 is scheduled to return in June after completing the joint voyage in the Ross Sea. The expedition involved 516 members from 118 domestic and international institutions.
During the expedition, the team overcame a range of challenging natural conditions and completed various tasks to improve Qinling Station's capabilities within 65 days. They installed important systems such as new energy, communication, seawater desalination, and wastewater treatment, which make the scientific research station capable of supporting overwintering expeditions.
Currently, 43 team members are stationed there to carry out the overwintering mission.
"During the overwintering mission from March to November this year, we'll continue to push forward the interior architecture engineering of Qinling Station's main building, install pipeline systems, and conduct finishing works like system integration and testing. Construction, testing, and operations will proceed simultaneously to ensure everything at the station runs smoothly and safely," Hu Hongqiao, deputy leader of China's 41st Antarctic expedition team, said at a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday.
China's Qinling Station now able to support overwintering in Antarctica
More than a month ahead of the Chinese New Year, restaurants across China have reported a booming demand for reunion dinners, with popular places already fully reserved.
The family reunion dinners on the eve of the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the most important meal of the year for Chinese people. It has long been an essential part of celebrating the Chinese New Year. This year, the festival falls on Feb 17.
In Taiyuan, capital city of north China's Shanxi Province, one restaurant said all tables for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner have been reserved.
"We now have 36 private rooms and 13 tables in the hall. The New Year's Eve dinner is fully booked. Many families started reserving as early as November 2025," said Han Huiyan, a restaurant manager.
To meet the demand, many restaurants start to offer takeaway banquet package that can be easily prepared at home, allowing families to enjoy a variety of festive dishes without dining out.
In Ningbo, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province, many popular restaurants said that they are approaching full reservation levels. To reduce peak demand, some restaurants now offer off-peak reunion dinners starting later at night.
"We now offer a 'second round' of New Year's Eve dinners, which start at 19:30. We also offer discount for such New Year's Eve dinners, a promotion of 20 percent off set menus," said Sun Lijuan, a restaurant manager.
In Lianyungang, a city in east China's Jiangsu Province, smaller private rooms of a local restaurant have been nearly sold out, and customized menus and home-delivery services have drawn strong interest.
"This year we have specially launched the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner delivery service. Bookings are very strong and customers really like this option," said Geng Maoran, a restaurant general manager.
Restaurants see surge in bookings for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners
