After traversing the sea for 42 days, Zhao Xi and other members of China's 36th Antarctic Scientific Expedition Team arrived in Shanghai safe and sound on April 22, successfully completing a 158-day scientific expedition.

Zhao, associate professor and doctoral supervisor of the Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping in Wuhan University, had originally planned to return to China by plane via Australia after completing her task in early February, but the trip was delayed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Considering the risk of stopping over in other countries affected by the epidemic, China's Ministry of Natural Resources decided that taking China's scientific expedition ships without stopping over in any country was the best way for them to get back home.

Zhao and her team members sailed on China's scientific expedition ship Xuelong for 17 days, then transferred to Xuelong 2 for another 25 days of travel before arriving home.

Recalling the voyage, Zhao said, "I'm so lucky to have had the chance to fly to Antarctica by plane and return home aboard Xuelong."

Xuelong, launched in 1994 and known as Snow Dragon, is China's first polar research icebreaker. Xuelong 2, the country's first home-built icebreaker with more observation equipment and better facilities and conditions, set sail on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic last year.

Scientific Expedition Mission in Antarctic by Plane

In her scientific expedition mission, Zhao was responsible for aerial surveys by taking "Xueying 601," also known as "Snow Eagle 601," China's first polar fixed-wing aircraft.

Before getting on the plane, Zhao wore the thickest "Penguin Suit" to keep warm since the temperature inside and outside the cabin was almost the same. She prepared to take in oxygen at any time and didn't eat for seven consecutive hours because it was not convenient to go to the toilet on the plane.

As the trip home was delayed, Zhao had more time to do scientific research and experience Antarctic life. She took a lot of valuable pictures of polar "neighbors," the Adelie penguin, and the beautiful aurora in Antarctica.

Blessings a Thousand Meters High

Zhao kept a close eye on the situation in China through the network in the research base Zhongshan Station in Antarctica amid the outbreak of the epidemic. She called her parents and children to tell them to relax and take care of themselves.

On the eve of the Spring Festival, she and her teammates wrote many examples of the Chinese character "Fu," which means good fortune, to bless Wuhan City, the former epicenter of the epidemic outbreak, and China.

On the birthdays of Zhao's children, she wrote her blessings on the weather balloon, letting the balloon carry her best wishes and birthday greetings a thousand meters high.

"I have experienced many 'firsts' in my life. As a university teacher, I will share the stories during the expedition tour with my students and pass on the spirit of China's polar scientific expedition team," said Zhao.

(Source: Chutian Metropolis Daily and People's Daily/Translated and edited by Women of China)