Antarctica the new adventure draw for Chinese tourists

China has overtaken Australia to become the second biggest source of tourists to the Antarctic.

Over the past decade, the number of Chinese tourists to the area has surged nearly 40 times and is expected to pass 5,000 this year, accounting for 12 percent of all visitors to the destination, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

US tourists top the list and account for one-third of the total visitors.