The research vessel and icebraker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, set sail from Shanghai on the morning of 20th July to carry out scientific mission in the Arctic.
The China´s 8th Arctic expedition will be the country´s first attempt to go through the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and attempting its first circumnavigation of the Arctic rim. The expedition team of 96 people will sail more than 19,000 nautical miles before they return to Shanghai on October 10. return via the Central future Arctic shipping route.
more information:
http://www.pric.org.cn/detail/News.aspx?id=f06865cb-fba7-448f-8457-dc4646f0720d
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nation/Arctic-team-in-Northwest-Passage-bid/shdaily.shtml