Xinhua
Shanghai, April 20 (Xinhua) China’s first inland Antarctic research station will open next year. “The preparatory work for the new station is under way,” Sun Bo, leader of the Chinese Antarctic icecap expedition team, told Xinhua Saturday.

“The 25th Antarctic expedition that will start in November is tasked with building the main structure of the station on Dome A, which is expected to be completed next January.”

The new research station will be China’s third in Antarctica after the Changcheng and Zhongshan stations.

“Chinese researchers made the first trip to Dome A in January 2005. China will continue the scientific research into Dome A,” Sun said.

The 17-member team came back from their 24th expedition Wednesday.

The expedition carried out scientific inspections on glaciers, geology, meteorological phenomena and astronomy at the ice continent’s highest peak - key to a study of formation and evolution of the Antarctic icecap, Sun said.

“Scientists will also search for the ice core dating from 1.2 million years ago on Dome A, and study the geological evolution under the icecap, the global climate changes and astronomy there.”

China launched its first expedition to the Antarctic in 1984.
Xinhua