Members of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team marked the approaching Spring Festival with a variety of vibrant traditional activities, transforming their research stations into festive gathering places.
Aboard China's research icebreaker Xuelong, or the Snow Dragon, scientists started to undertake a thorough clean of the vessel's public spaces such as the exhibition hall and exhibition area, and decorate them with red lanterns and Spring Festival couplets.
A thorough spring cleaning of one's home is a longstanding tradition among the Chinese people as they prepare to welcome the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 17 this year.
In the ship's galley, the kitchen crew worked diligently to prepare for the year's most important meal: fish were cleaned, meat was chopped, and meatballs were fried.
"We prepared mushroom and bok choy especially for this year's celebration. These green vegetables have been set aside and carefully stored since our last port call in New Zealand. We reserved a few boxes of them specifically for the New Year's Eve dinner," said Zhang Kansheng, head chef aboard the Xuelong.
At China's Zhongshan Station, team members gathered to write couplets and paste Chinese New Year paintings, while rehearsals were underway for lion dances and singing performances.
At the Qinling Station, where a communication base station has been established recently, researchers can not only make phone calls and send text messages, but also conduct video chats with their families and friends.
At the Great Wall Station, several Portuguese scientists conducting research at the station joined their Chinese colleagues in making dumplings, also known as jiaozi, to usher in the Chinese New Year.
"It's very interesting to be part of a celebration and a tradition of China," said Tayna, a Portuguese scientist.
As the Year of the Horse draws near, the expedition team also sent its New Year's greetings back across the oceans.
The Xuelong polar research icebreaker will head to the Ross Sea for mooring buoy recovery and deployment operations. The Xuelong-2 will continue to conduct multi-transect, multi-station scientific research in the Cosmonauts Sea.
China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team celebrates Spring Festival with colorful activities
