A team of researchers participating in China's 42nd Antarctic expedition celebrated the breakthroughs they achieved during their 160-day voyage as they wrapped up their mission and returned to Shanghai on Thursday.
This polar expedition has involved 550 researchers, over 3,600 tonnes of routine supplies, and 104 days of inland exploration, setting new records for personnel scale and workload.
It has supported the on-site implementation of 45 national science and technology projects, achieving breakthroughs in major infrastructure construction, scientific research and monitoring, testing and application of home-grown equipment, and international cooperation, according to the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.
"Overcoming numerous difficulties, including complex ice conditions, rough seas, strong winds and extremely low temperatures, the team successfully completed comprehensive surveys at 61 stations in key areas such as the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, the Cosmonaut Sea, and the Amundsen Sea, as well as the deployment and retrieval of 14 moored buoys. Additionally, the team carried out various surveys and monitoring activities, engineering construction, and supply and personnel transport at three overwintering stations, namely, the Great Wall Station, the Zhongshan Station, and the Qinling Station, as well as in aviation and inland Antarctic regions," said Wei Fuhai, head and chief scientist of China's 42nd Antarctic Expedition Team.
Researchers also reported outstanding results in ecological surveys.
"The Xuelong 2 operated in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula for seven days, completing surveys at 13 stations and deploying 15 ocean bottom seismometers. It collected more than 5,500 environmental and biological samples. The mission provides crucial scientific support for deepening our understanding of the structure and function of polar ecosystems and assessing the ecological risks posed by global warming," said Cao Shunan, assistant to the chief scientist of China's 42nd Antarctic Expedition Team.
China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team embarked on the journey from Shanghai on Nov 1, 2025. It has been jointly supported by two icebreakers, namely Xuelong and Xuelong 2. The expedition is anticipated to end in May.
China's Antarctic expedition team celebrates breakthroughs after wrapping up 160-day voyage
