![<p>TheSnow Dragon sails across floating sea ice in the Antarctic, Dec 4, 2017. The icebreaking vessel will engage in preparatory work for building China's fifth station in the Antarctic. [Photo/Xinhua]</p>](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2017/12/06/cc60dfc843224f1ba5beca7795a7dbe8.jpg)
TheSnow Dragon sails across floating sea ice in the Antarctic, Dec 4, 2017. The icebreaking vessel will engage in preparatory work for building China's fifth station in the Antarctic. [Photo/Xinhua]
Penguins come into sight as the Snow Dragon, China's polar icebreaker, arrives in the Antarctic, Dec 5, 2017. The icebreaking vessel is on its 34th scientific expedition to the Antarctic. (Photo/Xinhua)
![A helicopter takes off from the deck of the Snow Dragon for inspection of the floating sea ice, Dec 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2017/12/06/714d1a83920a41a2975309219613e38a.jpg)
A helicopter takes off from the deck of the Snow Dragon for inspection of the floating sea ice, Dec 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
![An iceberg is seen in front of the Snow Dragon, Dec 3, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2017/12/06/11bc996b248a459ea1e8744e14ab41d8.jpg)
An iceberg is seen in front of the Snow Dragon, Dec 3, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
![Members of the expedition team put a sampling instrument for microplastics into the sea, Nov 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2017/12/06/d3022dbdb5e04f81bcaf550a4cbad0a2.jpg)
Members of the expedition team put a sampling instrument for microplastics into the sea, Nov 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Expedition team members drop a buoy into the sea when the ship crosses the westerlies, Nov 30, 2017. (Photo/Xinhua)
An expedition team member shows the sample of microplastics collected from the sea, Nov 19, 2017. (Photo/Xinhua)
