A research team of China's 33rd Antarctic expedition has set out for their second stop in the South Pole, Kunlun station. They arrived at their first stop, Zhongshan station, after sailing for over one month at sea on the icebreaker Xuelong.

The entire 256-member team, who embarked on their 161-day South Pole expedition from Shanghai in early November, took over the jobs of the 32nd Antarctic expedition when they arrived. The majority of the team has set out on the over 2,000-kilometer journey to Kunlun Station, the highest location in Antarctica.

They will carry out a two-month inland Antarctic expedition once they get there and are expected to return to Zhongshan Station in February next year. China started inland Antarctic explorations in 1997, and this is the 15th time explorers are heading out to Kunlun station to undertake research projects.

The Snow Eagle 601, China's first polar fixed-wing aircraft, will also conduct landing and take-off missions at Kunlun Station during the expedition.