The Chinese scientific expedition ship "Xuelong," or Snow Dragon in English, arrived at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica on Saturday, after sailing more than 4,000 sea miles.

The icebreaker is to pick up Chinese scientists on the 24th scientific expedition tour to the Antarctica.

China's scientific expedition ship "Xuelong," or Snow Dragon, anchored in the Antarctic Ocean off the Zhongshan Station on Saturday.

The Chinese scientists have returned to the station just after wrapping up their research missions on the inland ice sheet plateau under extremely harsh weather, earlier this month.

They installed the observation equipment on the Dome A, the Antarctic ice-cap peak that is 4,093 meters above sea level.

Zhongshan Station, named after Dr. Sun Zhongshan, is the second Chinese Antarctic base built in February 1989 after the Great wall Station. The station can accommodate 60 summering personnel and 25 wintering personnel.

The ship is scheduled to sail back home on March 10.

(CRI, Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2008)