The Chinese ship Xuelong (Snow Dragon) left the port of Shanghai Pudong on November 1, heading for the Antarctic Pole on its 16th scientific expedition.

A team of some 130 scientists and crew members will sail 24,448 nautical miles in the next five months, conducting more than 20 research projects including summer and winter climate changes and a comprehensive study of the Grove Mountains.

The travelers will also build a 900-sqm building at the Zhongshan Station. The Snow Dragon, which was back from a North Pole expedition on September 9, is 167 meters long equipped with advanced navigation, positioning and automatic steering systems, able to sail non-stop for nearly 100 days. (Xinhua)