Qinling Station 中国南极秦岭站 | |
|---|---|
 3D rendering of the Qinling Station project | |
 | |
| Coordinates:74°56′04″S163°42′55″E / 74.9343406°S 163.7152681°E /-74.9343406; 163.7152681 | |
| Country |  China |
| Operator | PRIC |
| Established | 7 February 2024 (2024-2-7) |
| Population | |
| • Summer | 80 |
| • Winter | 30 |
| Active times | All year-round |
| Status | Operational |
Qinling Station (Chinese:秦岭站;pinyin:Qínlǐng zhàn) is an Antarctic research station operated by thePolar Research Institute of China. It is situated on the southern edge ofInexpressible Island inTerra Nova Bay,Scott Coast,Victoria Land, on theRoss Sea coast ofEast Antarctica.
The station has an area of 5,244 m2 (56,450 sq ft), and is in the shape of theSouthern Cross, honouringZheng He, an admiral and diplomat during theMing Dynasty.[1]
The station first broke ground in 2018, but construction was delayed because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 7 February 2024, Qinling Station was officially opened by the People's Republic of China.[3][4][5] TheCenter for Strategic and International Studies, an Americanthink tank, reported that the station was expected to include an observatory with a satellite ground station, and that the equipment could be used to collectsignals intelligence and for tracking rockets launched from theArnhem Space Centre in Australia. China rejected claims that the station would be used for espionage.[6][7]
In March 2025 China announced plans of its intentions to build its sixth Antarctic station, for summer research, at Cox Point (74°57'S, 136°41'W)[8] inMarie Byrd Land, West Antarctica.[9]
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