China’s 35th Antarctic expedition team arrived at the Kunlun station at 5:30 pm local time Friday after covering more than 1,250 kilometers for 18 days.

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 1, 2019 shows vehicles of China's 35th Antarctic expedition team at their camp in Antarctica. (Photo: Xinhua)

The 16 members encountered environmental challenges including ice cracks and hypoxia, solved equipment problems, and conducted scientific investigations such as ice sample collection and ice flow measurement.

The members are in good health and are carrying out equipment maintenance and preparations for scientific research.

They plan to work for 20 days at the station, said Shang Zhaohui, the captain of the Kunlun team. They will conduct maintenance on telescopes and undertake other projects as in the past years including data collection, equipment installation and operation, sample collection and gravity measurements.

The station is China’s first inland station in Antarctica, as well as one at the highest elevation on the continent, and is situated around seven kilometers southwest of the Dome Argus (Dome A), the peak of Antarctica's inland icecap. 

China's 35th Antarctic expedition sent 37 members comprising two inland teams to the Kunlun and Taishan stations on Dec. 18, 2018. The Kunlun team continued the expedition after the other team arrived at the Taishan station on December 25.