‘As part of this expedition, China plans to carry out scientific drilling in deep lakes in the Antarctic inland ice for the first time,’ explained Wei Fuhai, head and scientific director of the expedition. ‘With the help of hot water and melt drilling systems developed in China, we will carry out clean drilling and sampling through more than 3,000 metres of thick ice.’ According to Xinhua, the expedition began on 1 November 2025 in Shanghai. It is being supported by the two Chinese polar icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2.
Antarctic subglacial lakes are characterised by extreme conditions such as high pressure, low temperatures, darkness and nutrient deficiency. They harbour a unique ecosystem and preserve valuable information about the history of the ice sheet and climate change. Research into these lakes is therefore essential for understanding sedimentation processes and the evolution of life.
To further deepen our understanding of the role of Antarctica in global climate change, the expedition team will collect long-term data in key regions such as the Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea.
‘Continuously improving our ability to understand, protect and utilise Antarctica is not only an indispensable prerequisite for China to develop into a strong maritime power, but also a way to make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind,’ said Long Wei, deputy director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.
Wang Tao, deputy expedition leader and head of the Qinling Station: ‘During the expedition, we will continue to improve the Qinling Station’s research building, communications network and other supporting facilities, thereby further strengthening operational safety and scientific support.’
In addition, the reliability and adaptability of the already installed, domestically built desalination, wind power and photovoltaic systems will be further tested.
In constructing the Qinling Station, China used a hybrid system of wind, solar, hydrogen and storage energy for the first time, reducing fossil fuel consumption by over 100 tonnes per year. Even during windless and sunless polar nights, the station can operate for about 2.5 hours on stored green electricity, providing scientific instruments and vital equipment with a full supply of clean energy for short periods of time.
The construction team is installing and optimising the intelligent logistics warehouse and the security control system at the Qinling Station. The warehouse combines polar robots with an AI-powered platform to enable unmanned operation of the entire process and increase material handling efficiency by 40 per cent.
As part of this expedition, a range of new technologies will be deployed and tested in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. Key equipment for validation includes China’s independently developed and manufactured 6×6 wheeled vehicle Snow Leopard.
TESTING NEW EQUIPMENT
As part of this expedition, a range of new technologies will be deployed and tested in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. Key equipment for validation includes China’s independently developed and manufactured 6×6 wheeled vehicle Snow Leopard.
In addition, various advanced systems such as automated observation and satellite remote sensing, ecological diving buoys and a coordinated network system for krill research will be tested in practice.
The expedition brings together a diverse team of over 500 members from more than 80 institutions in mainland China with researchers from over ten countries and regions, including Thailand, Chile, Portugal, Hong Kong and Macau, promoting broader international scientific cooperation.
‘The mission is supported by the polar research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2,’ Long said, adding that the team is expected to complete the mission in May 2026 and return to China.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal