A new landmark in Antarctica! Qinling Station has a “Chinese style”

On February 7, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a letter congratulating China on the completion and commissioning of its Qinling Station in Antarctica.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's polar expedition. From Kunlun Station, Taishan Station to Qinling Station, the "Chinese style" of Antarctic research stations embodies the spirit of scientific exploration and the cultural confidence of a great country.

China's Qinling Station in Antarctica. (Photo by He He)

Answering why “Qinling Mountains” is, to a certain extent, also answering “Why China”.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "The Qinling Mountains unite the north and the south and benefit the whole world. It is my country's central water tower, the ancestral vein of the Chinese nation and an important symbol of Chinese culture."

What is "ancestral vein"? The vast Qinling Mountains have a long history of humanities. A million years ago, the Lantian people lived and multiplied in the valleys, and later the Banpo people left their footprints. From the 800-li Qinchuan, you can see the Heluo Central Plains, and from Chang'an, you can see Luoyang. The diverse and unified Chinese culture has grown and developed here.

The Qinling Mountains stretch across the land of China, stretching more than 1,600 kilometers from east to west. With its huge body, it blocks the airflow from north to south, becoming the climate and geographical dividing line of China. The Qinling Mountains are fearless of wind and frost, unyielding, like the backbone of the Chinese nation.

The Qinling Mountains are a "natural gene bank" and "natural medicine bank" of biodiversity. The "Four Treasures of the Qinling Mountains" such as the red-crowned crane, giant panda, takin, and golden monkey are world-famous.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Yuan in front of China's Qinling Station in Antarctica. (Photo by He He)

Kunlun, Taishan, Qinling, our mountains are in China, in Antarctica, and in the dreams of the descendants of Yan and Huang.

Kunlun Mountain is known as the "ancestor of all mountains" in the cultural history of the Chinese nation. Ancient Chinese myths and legends are closely related to Kunlun Mountain. The Kunlun Mountains stretch over 2,500 kilometers across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and carry the most magnificent imagination of the Chinese nation.

Mount Tai is known as the "first of the Five Mountains" and "the best mountain in the world". It is the spiritual home of the Chinese nation and a microcosm of oriental culture. It has special historical, cultural and aesthetic values. Mount Tai is China's first World Cultural and Natural Heritage approved by UNESCO, carrying the dreams and pursuits of generations of Chinese people for their country and the world.

A polar worker specifically pointed out that it is important to tell everyone that the Qinling Station is backed by "another Qinling Mountain".

This is the famous Transantarctic Mountains. The mountain range stretches for about 3,500 kilometers, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, dividing Antarctica into two. It is the backbone of the Antarctic continent and also carries a rich and diverse miracle of life.

The extreme environment means that there are almost no land animals in most parts of Antarctica, but a series of unique animals live in and around the Transantarctic Mountains.

The famous emperor penguins live in the mountains and the surrounding ice fields and coastlines. Snow shearwaters, albatrosses, Antarctic seals, Antarctic terns, Antarctic midges, Antarctic skuas, etc., among the ice and snow, prove the beauty and resilience of life and strengthen our belief in protecting this beautiful pure land.

We pledge in the name of the mountains to thrive and thrive alongside them on this beautiful but fragile blue planet.

Producer: Huo Xiaoguang

Planning: Chen Fang

Reporter: Wang Libin, Zhou Yuan

Editors: Miao Xiayang, Guo Baojiang