Antarctic mission ends as icebreakers reach home after traveling 130,000 km in 198 days

China's 36th Antarctic expedition concluded on Thursday as the two research icebreakers involved in the mission returned to their home port in Shanghai.

The Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, and Xuelong 2 set sail on October 9 and travelled a total of around 130,000 kilometers in the 198-day expedition.

Nearly 400 scientists, researchers and support crew took part in the mission, conducting 62 scientific and engineering tasks, said a statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources' polar expedition office.

It noted that all of the personnel are in good condition.

The mission was the first long-range operation for China's second -- and the first domestically built -- research icebreaker, Xuelong 2.