Year in review: China's major scientific and infrastructure achievements

Xuelong 2 starts maiden Antarctic mission

China's first domestically built research icebreaker Xuelong 2 embarked on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic from Shenzhen in Guangdong province on Oct 15.

The voyage is a major part of China's 36th Antarctic expedition, which involves 413 scientists, researchers and support staff. Xuelong 2's predecessor Xuelong also joined the expedition, the first time that two polar icebreakers have worked together on a Chinese Antarctic expedition.

Xuelong 2 will return to China in late March while Xuelong will come back in mid-April.