China’s polar research icebreaker Xuelong-2 returned to Haikou, in south China’s Hainan Province, on Wednesday morning, successfully concluding the country’s 41st Antarctic expedition. The 208-day voyage, which began in Guangzhou on November 1, 2024, covered over 40,000 nautical miles, marking a significant milestone in China’s polar exploration.
A Historic Voyage Returns
This expedition achieved a historic first: China’s inaugural autumn research campaign in the Ross Sea ecosystem. Venturing beyond traditional summer surveys, the team braved the region’s harsher autumn-winter conditions. They conducted 24 comprehensive oceanographic surveys across four transects, deployed 34 specialized observation buoys, and collected over 5,000 samples—including water, sediment cores, biological specimens, and sea ice—greatly expanding scientific understanding of Antarctic ecosystems.
Fostering Global Collaboration
The mission fostered international cooperation, involving 12 scientists from eight countries—the UK, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia—to advance global polar research and conservation efforts.
Strengthening Ties with Thailand
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, Xuelong-2 made its maiden visit to Thailand from May 19 to 23 as part of the China-Thailand Marine Cooperation Month. Researchers from both nations co-hosted a polar science conference to enhance collaboration and organized public exhibitions to promote polar conservation awareness in Thailand.
Pioneering Polar Science
The expedition highlighted China’s expanding role in Antarctic science and global environmental governance, driving scientific innovation while strengthening international partnerships. By pushing the boundaries of polar research, Xuelong-2’s achievements underscored China’s commitment to advancing both scientific discovery and collaborative stewardship of Earth’s last wilderness.
