Chinese tourists take to Antarctica in a big way

Chinese have become the second-largest tourist force in Antarctica. The polar region received 8,273 Chinese visitors during the 2017-2018 season, accounting for 16 percent of all, only second to the United States, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

This figure is nearly 3,000 more than the 2016-2017 Antarctic tourism seasons, while 100 times as much as it was in 2008, when fewer than 100 Chinese visited. The 2018-2019 season is likely to see the number rise over 10,000, says China's biggest online travel agency Ctrip.

"The demand from Chinese tourists increases sharply every year," says Wang Nan, who manages Ctrip's Antarctic tours. "Bookings for Antarctic routes are growing rapidly."