(LUO SHA)

Scientists and crew aboard the scientific research ship Dayang Yihao, or Ocean One, wave goodbye before they set out on a global voyage on December 8 from Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.

In the next 376 days, they will travel 45,000 nautical miles across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans to study hot liquid sulfides and deep-sea biological diversity. Hot liquid sulfides, commonly known as "black chimneys" by researchers, can provide clues about the origins of life.

This is China's 22nd deep-sea scientific research mission and the third global voyage of Dayang Yihao. A total of 431 scientists will join in the research at different phases of the voyage.