Chinese polar icebreaker returns home after fruitful Antarctic research outcomes

Members of China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team disembark from China's research icebreaker Xuelong in Shanghai, east China, April 9, 2026. Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to Shanghai on Thursday after a 160-day-long voyage which formed part of the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)