Chinese icebreaker Xuelong, or "Snow Dragon", (a ship designed for breaking through icy waters) left Tianjin on November 3, for the country’s 28th scientific expedition of Antarctica. Two WHU members are on the team: Xie Surui, born in 1989, is the youngest member sent by WHU; and An Jiachun will carry out the mission to build the first permanent tidal station on the Great Wall Station. This follows the previous breakthrough of building a tidal station in the Antarctic Zhongshan Station.

An Jiachun, 25 years old, is a post-doctorate student at WHU and a member of Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping. This is the second time for him to go to Antarctic. In 2009, An went to the Great Wall Station for the 26th scientific expedition.

Zhang Shengkai, associate professor of the Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, notes, "as climate change and the rising of sea level have gathered the world’s attention, tidal stations in the Antarctic should be built to provide crucial information for analyzing sea level and climate change. "

The first permanent tidal station in the Antarctic was built by WHU at the Zhongshan Station during China’s 26th scientific expedition. This achievement showcased China’s growing strength in the sciences. In order to get comprehensive data and provide better service, a tidal station at the Great Wall Station is necessary to provide timely tidal forecasts for cargo-icebreakers, thus ensuring safe navigation.