China opens fifth Antarctic research station

Construction began in December and was undertaken by members on China's 40th Antarctic expedition, which set out from Shanghai in early November and arrived in Antarctica later that month.

The other four Chinese research stations in Antarctica are Changcheng, Zhongshan, Taishan and Kunlun.

The new station is the third Chinese research base in Antarctica able to operate all year, joining Changcheng and Zhongshan, which were built in the late 1980s.

Kunlun and Taishan stations are currently operated during the summertime.

China's commitment to scientific research and the peaceful development of the polar regions has seen it conduct 40 expeditions to Antarctica and 13 to the Arctic, obtaining a great deal of scientific data and many samples.