China plans to invest about 500 million yuan, or over US$60 million to renovate polar research facilities in the next three years.

The State Bureau of Oceanic Administration says China plans to renovate a Xuelong transportation and supplementary ship and rebuild the Great Wall and Zhong Shan scientific research stations in the South Pole.

This is expected to accelerate research and pave the way for the establishment of research stations in Antarctica.

The renovations will be complete by 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2004)