China's 41st Antarctic expedition team, gathered aboard the country's two polar icebreakers Xuelong and Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon and Snow Dragon 2, set sail from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Friday headed south to conduct scientific investigations in the polar region for seven months.

A grand ceremony was held that morning to send members of the expedition team off and wish them well.

Sun Shuxian, vice-minister of natural resources, said the research team will carry out surveys on the impact and feedback of climate change in Antarctica's icy ecosystem.