China's Xuelong 2 sails from Shanghai to Arctic on new mission(1/3)

China's icebreaker research vessel Xuelong 2 departs Shanghai for Arctic, July 12, 2021. (Photo provided to China News Service by the Ministry of Natural Resources)

Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, departed from Shanghai on Monday for a scientific expedition mission to the North Pole.

It will sail about 15,000 nautical miles on its research mission, and return to home port in Shanghai in late September.

China's icebreaker research vessel Xuelong 2 departs Shanghai for Arctic, July 12, 2021. (Photo provided to China News Service by the Ministry of Natural Resources)

China's icebreaker research vessel Xuelong 2 departs Shanghai for Arctic, July 12, 2021. (Photo provided to China News Service by the Ministry of Natural Resources)