China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2 returned to Shanghai on Monday, concluding the country's 42nd Antarctic expedition after 199 days. The expedition, jointly supported by China's two icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, departed Shanghai on November 1, 2025. Xuelong returned on April 9, while Xuelong 2 completed a 35,000-kilometer voyage after finishing an autumn joint research mission in Prydz Bay. A total of 550 researchers from 125 domestic and international institutions participated in the mission. It achieved breakthroughs in major project construction, scientific research, investigation and monitoring, equipment testing and application, and international cooperation, providing strong support for China and the international community to conduct in-depth research on the rapid changes in Antarctica, effectively address global climate change and actively participate in Antarctic governance.