Icebreaker 'Snow Dragon' embarks on Antarctic expedition

China's research icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, departed from its home base in Shanghai for its latest Antarctic expedition on Monday. China's first domestically built research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, departed on Wednesday from Shanghai to embark on its Antarctic expedition. Both Xuelong and Xuelong 2 will take part in a joint expedition in the southernmost continent.

The two Xuelong icebreakers will conduct scientific research on the impact of global climate change in the key ocean area, with the venture including research on the polar region's air composition, its water environment, deposits and ecosystem.