China's 39th Antarctic expedition begins

China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2,China's first domestically built icebreaker for polar research set off from Shanghai on Wednesday, marking the start of the country's 39th Antarctic expedition.
A total of 255 researchers will carry out investigations in the fields of atmospheric composition, water environment, sedimentary environment and ecosystem at the South Pole, and will arrive in two batches, with the second batch setting out on October 31.
The expedition team is expected to return to China in early April next year.