SHANGHAI - The icebreaker "Xuelong" (Snow Dragon), returned to Shanghai Friday, concluding China's 31st Antarctic expedition.

The China-led team completed reconnaissance and survey observations for a planned bio-ecology and satellite remote research station.

The team also undertook marine geology; geophysics; marine chemistry and biology; and biotic resource analysis in the Southern Ocean.

Scientists succeeded in drilling ice cores with a total length of 172 meters, which will inform ancient climate study.

The astronomical telescope at Kunlun Station was repaired, and another was installed.

The vessel left Shanghai on Oct. 30 last year.

Thirty-one team members will spend the winter at the Changcheng and Zhongshan stations to conduct research in the fields of meteorology, ecology and polar light.