In 1989, China built its second research base in Antarctica and called it Zhongshan. The station is now undergoing a thorough renovation which is expected to be finished in 2011.

Honored ships

Three ships have been the lifeline on China's long road to Antarctica.

The first, which took the Chinese team during the initial expedition, Xiangyanghong 10, was built during the "cultural revolution" as the only ship in the country's fleet dedicated to scientific exploration. "It was not suitable for a voyage to the South Pole, but there was nothing else available at the time and we had no options," said E Dongchen, then the deputy captain of the first expedition.

The Jidi Ship, which carried the expedition that built Zhongshan Station, was stuck and frozen in the icy sea for seven days in January 1989 before it reached its destination.

The most advanced vessel and the only one that was an ice breaker, the Xuelong or Snow Dragon, still serves as the backbone of China's Antarctic missions after its maiden voyage in 1994.

The ship was blocked by thick ice around Antarctica during its 25th trip in November 2008. A ship's ice detection team searched for new routes through the thick and condensed ice. It finally managed to find a way out using satellite remote-sensing technology.

The Xuelong also brought 200 tons of garbage from Zhongshan Station back home for waste disposal. "We did that as part of certain regulations of the Antarctic Treaty, and also for the sake of Antarctic environmental protection," said expedition leader Yang Huigen. The Xuelong also helped smaller foreign stations clean up their waste.

The Xuelong is now preparing for its 26th expedition, set for October 2009.

China's Antarctic Timeline

November 20, 1984 China's first journey to Antarctica sets sail

February 20, 1985 China's first scientific station in Antarctica, Changcheng, is established

October 7, 1985 China is admitted as the consultative party of the Antarctic Treaty

February 26, 1989 China builds its second research base, Zhongshan Station

July 1989 Chinese scientist Qin Dahe journeys to Antarctica with an international research expedition and becomes the first Chinese person to travel across Antarctica on foot

1998 Chinese scientists successfully climb Grove Mountain, becoming the world's first expedition to enter this area

October 25, 2004 China's 21st Antarctica expedition team reaches the Dome Argus (Dome A) zone for the first time. The dome is the highest icecap at the South Pole

January 27, 2009 China establishes its third Antarctic research station, which is its first one inland