Chinese scientists will start a 150-day journey to the South Pole from Shanghai Monday. Its first stop is the Zhongshan Station on the Antarctic coast.

The major goal is to climb the highest icecap of the South Pole in preparation for building a permanent research station in inland Antarctica.

The scientists will take samples and set up a temporary weather station there. A team of 10 Chinese scientists and two journalists will make a trip of 1,300 kilometers inland from Zhongshan Station on the southeast coast of Antarctica to Dome A, the continent's highest icecap, 4,300 meters above sea level.

The Xuelong (Snow Dragon), a scientific research ice-breaking ship designed for polar seas will carry the 135 expedition members. If the expedition is successful, China will be the first country to get to the Dome A area by land.

(CRI.com October 24, 2004)