Members of the Chinese scientific expedition team play soccer game and then have buffet on a piece of giant sea ice in Antarctic, Dec. 19, 2013. In early November, Chinese research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong (Snow Dragon) set sail on the country’s 30th scientific expedition to Antarctica. The 256 member team, including scientists from Taiwan and Thailand, will work on 30 assignments and take supplies to China's Antarctica stations. It will set up China's fourth research station, the "Taishan", and choose a site for another new station. The expedition will last 155 days, covering 31,500 nautical miles over its entire course. The team is expected to return home in April, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong) |