Researchers conclude 39th expedition to Antarctica

China's latest scientific expedition to Antarctica concluded on Thursday as mission members returned to their home base in Shanghai.

The 39th Antarctic expedition started in late October and lasted 163 days. A total of 255 researchers traveled more than 110,000 kilometers on board two icebreakers — Xuelong and Xuelong 2 — according to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which administers the nation's oceanic and polar research activities.

Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, returned to its port in Shanghai on Monday, while Xuelong 2, China's first domestically built research icebreaker, arrived in the eastern economic powerhouse on Thursday, ending the expedition.