A penguin is seen in front of Chinese icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, docked at an ice cover area of the South Pole. The icebreaker is on China's 31st scientific expedition to Antarctica. [Photo/ Weibo.com]

Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, is the only Chinese icebreaking research ship in service. Built in Ukraine in 1993, the ship was converted from an Arctic cargo ship to a polar research and supply vessel by China in the mid-1990s. The ship has undergone upgrading four times, two of them at Jiangnan Shipyard. It is now serving China's 32nd Antarctic expedition. It has also made voyages to the Arctic.

"The new vessel is designed from the very beginning in accordance with special polar research and supply requirements," Hu said.

"It is tailor-made and will boast stronger research capabilities and be more comfortable and environmentally friendly," he added.