China's adventure in Antarctica

The opening on Feb 8 of Taishan, China's fourth Antarctic research station, is a further testament to the spirit of adventure.

The 1,000-square-meter station, named after one of China's most famous mountains, is located between two existing stations, Zhongshan and Kunlun, at an altitude of 2,621 meters and with an annual average temperature of -36.6 C. After Kunlun, Taishan is China's second inland expedition station in Antarctica, but will serve as a summer station because the facility can only be used from November to March.

In February 1985, China opened the Great Wall Station, the country's first research establishment in West Antarctica. The station lies on the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, 2.5 km from the Chilean Eduardo Frei Montalva Station.

A second station, Zhongshan, which was put in use in February 1989, is located in the Larsemann Hills of Princess Elizabeth Land in East Antarctica.

Zhongshan can accommodate 60 people during summer and 25 during winter. It houses an automatic cold- and hot-water supply system that can guarantee showers year-round.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 02/28/2014 page31)