The "Snow Dragon" returns to Shanghai, China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team successfully completes all tasks.

Today, the 42nd Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the icebreaker "Xuelong" successfully returned to the domestic base in China and docked at the port. The research team successfully completed all tasks as planned. This expedition reached new highs in terms of the scale of research personnel, amount of supplies, and tasks accomplished, and achieved fruitful results. The icebreaker "Xuelong" and "Xuelong 2" departed from Shanghai on November 1, 2025. The "Xuelong" returned on April 9, 2026, after 160 days and covering over 34,000 nautical miles. The "Xuelong 2" is currently carrying out the joint cruise mission "Autumn South Ocean Ecosystem" in the Prydz Bay in Antarctica, and is expected to return to Shanghai in late May.