China's 26th Antarctic expedition team left the Great Wall Station in western Antarctica Sunday for Zhongshan Station in eastern Antarctica to launch a new stage of its exploration mission.

The icebreaker Snow Dragon, or Xuelong, arrived at the Great Wall Station at 4:30 PM local time (2030GMT) and picked up five researchers, who flew there from Chile's Punta. It left again at 8:20 PM local time (0020GMT, Monday) with 179 scientists and crew members on board for Zhongshan Station.

According to Snow Dragon's first mate, Zhu Bing, the vessel is expected to arrive at Zhongshan Station in 15 days, during which it will cross nine time zones, covering a total distance of more than 5000 nautical miles (9260km).

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2009)