This Day, That Year

Editor's Note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy.

Since the Chinese Antarctic expedition team laid a foundation stone on King George Island for the country's first Antarctic research station in January 1985, the country has achieved remarkable progress in South Pole exploration.

China signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, and since then the country has sent 34 Antarctic expedition teams and built four research stations on the frozen continent - Great Wall in 1985, Zhongshan in 1989, Kunlun in 2009 and Taishan in 2014.