China's first domestically made icebreaker, Xuelong 2 (Snow Dragon 2), has successfully concluded a five-day visit to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and is now en route to Shanghai. This marked Xuelong 2's inaugural visit to Hong Kong as it returned from China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition.
During its stay, Xuelong 2 was accessible to the public, allowing citizens to explore the vessel and learn about its crucial role in polar research. Researchers from the Antarctic expedition team participated in a two-day international conference on climate change at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, sharing insights and advancements in the field.
In addition to the conference, scientists aboard Xuelong 2 engaged with over 250 school students at the Hong Kong Science Museum’s Polar Research and Climate Change exhibition. These interactions aimed to spark young minds' interest in exploring the mysteries of nature and fostering a passion for environmental protection.
Ma Fung-kwok, chairman of the organizing committee for Xuelong 2’s visit, highlighted the enthusiastic public participation, stating that terms like \"Xuelong 2\" and \"polar research\" have become well-recognized among Hong Kong residents. Wei Fuhai, deputy leader of the expedition team, emphasized the visit's significance in commemorating the 40th anniversary of China's polar expeditions. He expressed hope that the engagement would deepen Hong Kong people's understanding of polar research and inspire the younger generation to take an active interest in scientific exploration and sustainability.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
