China's research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2 safely returned to Shanghai on Tuesday, successfully wrapping up the country's 16th Arctic expedition with significant scientific breakthroughs and discoveries.
During the three-month mission, the two vessels completed comprehensive marine environment surveys in the Chukchi sea plateau, the Canada Basin, and the central Arctic Ocean. They made major strides in multidisciplinary investigations of the ice edge zone and integrated three-dimensional air-ice-sea observations.
The expedition revealed an enhanced injection of subsurface warm water from the Pacific Ocean into the Canada Basin and discovered a new massive hydrothermal plume zone in the abyssal depths of the Gakkel Ridge.
The finding of a substantial number of juvenile polar cod in high-latitude ice areas has updated the international understanding of the Arctic ecosystem.
Breakthroughs in geophysical surveys along the Gakkel Ridge yielded a complete record of the lithosphere's electrical structure spanning 25 million years.
Researchers discovered that the bottom boundary of the lithosphere extends almost horizontally at a depth of about 60 kilometers, challenging the traditional plate cooling model's predictions on plate thickening.
"The scale of the expedition and the total volume of tasks reached record highs, yielding fruitful results in new scientific discoveries, theoretical breakthroughs, technology testing, and equipment applications. This provides strong support for gaining a deeper understanding of and effectively responding to climate change, as well as advancing the sustainable development of the Arctic," said Wang Jinhui, leader of China's 16th Arctic expedition team.
The research vessels Jidi and Tansuo-3 are still carrying out their expedition tasks and are expected to return in mid-October.
China's icebreakers return from 16th Arctic expedition with major discoveries
China's tourism sector is gearing up for a booming influx of international visitors as the National Day holiday kicks off on Thursday, driven by relaxed visa policies and soaring overseas interest.
In the southwestern province of Sichuan, curated boutique travel routes are offering international tourists immersive experiences, highlighting local attractions ranging from snow-capped mountains and giant pandas to intangible cultural heritage and local cuisine.
According to forecasts by the Sichuan General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, the total volume of inbound and outbound travelers at Chengdu’s two major airports -- Tianfu and Shuangliu -- is expected to exceed 150,000 during this year's National Day holiday. The daily average throughput is projected at 21,000 travelers, with a peak daily volume of 22,000 expected on the first day of the holiday.
"This is my first time in China. I always wanted to visit China. I want to make a big trip in China. I'm in Chengdu right now and I want to see the pandas, and I also want to try Sichuan cuisine," said a tourist from Russia.
Meanwhile, eastern China's coastal hubs are experiencing a parallel boom. According to the Shandong General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, ports across Shandong Province are expected to handle 142,000 inbound and outbound travelers during the holiday, marking a 27.3 percent increase year on year. Driven by the continuous policy dividends of China's expanding visa-free transit policies, cities including Jinan, Qingdao and Yantai are seeing peak travel flows. In Weihai, located at the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, tourism momentum has carried over from the summer season, marked by a noticeable rise in travelers opting for ferry routes between China and South Korea. The dozen-hour maritime passage has emerged as a popular choice for tourists commuting between the two countries. "It is very convenient, the customs clearance process is smooth, and the staff are very enthusiastic. Weihai is very clean," said a tourist from South Korea.
China's border authorities are ramping up operational capacity to manage the heavy foot traffic.
"During the holiday, we have increased the number of inspection lanes, optimized duty arrangements, and deployed staff in advance to direct passenger flows. Meanwhile, we continue to implement measures to facilitate convenient customs clearance, ensuring efficient and smooth operations at the port," said Guo Xu, head of the first inspection team at the Weihai border inspection station.
China braces for inbound travel surge during National Day Holiday
