Around China

Warm hugs before a chilly journey

Song Zhenya, a member of China's fifth Arctic expedition, enjoys a family time before he embark on the icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Monday. Xuelong is estimated to travel more than 17,000 nautical miles (31,480 km) during its 90-day voyage and is scheduled to return to Shanghai on Sept 29. Photo by Yu Fangping / for China Daily