On Feb 20, 1985, China established its first Antarctic research station - the Great Wall Station - on King George Island, with a peak summer population of 80 and a winter population of about 40.

On Feb 26, 1989, Zhongshan Station was built on Larsemann Hills in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, with a capacity of 25 people in winter and 60 in summer.

On Jan 27, 2009, China's first inland station - the Kunlun Station - was opened at a site about 4,087 meters above sea level and 7.3 kilometers southwest of Dome A, a natural ice dome on the Antarctic Plateau.

On Nov 7, 2013, the country's 30th Antarctic expedition team set sail, with the construction of the Taishan summer camp and site inspections for another research station among its top priorities.