China marked its 30th year of expeditions in the Antarctica by showcasing a rare greenhouse built by the 31st Antarctic expedition team where 20 varieties of vegetables were planted.
It was on Feb. 20, 1985, when China's first Antarctic station, the Great Wall, was opened on the northern King George Island with Guo Kun serving as China's first polar station chief.
Late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping sent the first team to Antarctica.
The Chinese national flag was finally erected in the island on Dec. 30, 1984.
Shortly after, China gained the consultative status under the Antarctic Treaty, which gives it the right to vote in Antarctic affairs.
"It certificated that China had entered the international polar community, and it opened a new chapter for the Chinese to make contributions to the peaceful utilization of Antarctica," said Guo Kun.
China has since established three more stations in Antarctica--Zhongshan in 1989, Kunlun in 2009 and Taishan in 2014. A fifth is scheduled for construction later this year in the Victoria Land east of the continent.
"We have done tremendous scientific research in the fields of glaciology, hydrology, meteorology, marine geology, marine biology, cosmology and other subjects," said Liu Xiaohan, a polar geologist who led a team to explore the inland Grove Mountains in 1998.
China's 31st Antarctic expedition, consisting of 281 team members, will build a base for the Beidou navigation satellite system, select an airstrip site for fixed-wing aircraft on the ice sheet, install a new astronomical telescope and survey more areas for mapping.