This Day, That Year

Item from Dec 21, 1984, in China Daily: Xiangyanghong 10, China's first scientific expedition vessel sent to the Antarctic after sailing through the Pacific Ocean, has entered a berth off Ushuaia in Argentina, the southernmost city on the globe ... The ship set sail from Shanghai on Nov 20 and has completed a nonstop voyage of almost 20,000 kilometers.

The country's scientific capacity in the Antarctic has improved rapidly.

Since 1984, China has sent 34 Antarctic expedition teams and built four research stations in the South Pole - Great Wall, Zhongshan, Taishan and Kunlun. A fifth is under construction on the Ross Sea Ice Shelf.