This photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui ready to set off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team set sail on Wednesday morning, starting a mission expected to last over five months.

This is the first time China's Antarctic scientific research mission will be carried out by three ships.

Research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, set off from Shanghai, while cargo vessel Tian Hui departed from Zhangjiagang in east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by He Haiyang/Xinhua)

Cargo vessel Tian Hui sets off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 1, 2023. China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team set sail on Wednesday morning, starting a mission expected to last over five months.

This is the first time China's Antarctic scientific research mission will be carried out by three ships.

Research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, set off from Shanghai, while cargo vessel Tian Hui departed from Zhangjiagang in east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by He Haiyang/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 1, 2023 shows cargo vessel Tian Hui setting off from Zhangjiagang, east China's Jiangsu Province. China's 40th Antarctic scientific expedition team set sail on Wednesday morning, starting a mission expected to last over five months.

This is the first time China's Antarctic scientific research mission will be carried out by three ships.

Research icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, set off from Shanghai, while cargo vessel Tian Hui departed from Zhangjiagang in east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Bao Hong/Xinhua)