A grand unveiling ceremony for the establishment of China's national research center for promoting polar researches has been held in Shanghai.

The China Polar Research Center, which opened  Friday, will manage the country's Antarctic research stations, Zhongshan and Changcheng (Great Wall), and the polar expedition ship Xuelong (Snow Dragon).

The center will organize a series of polar expeditions, promote polar research, and open a logistics base for polar expeditions in Shanghai, which will include a special berth for the Xuelong, and the China Polar Museum.

Founded in 1989, the China Polar Research Institute, the predecessor of the national polar research center, is the only organization in China which was involved in polar expedition and research.

The institute is studying the polar atmosphere, glaciers, bio-resources, environment and ocean.

So far, 19 expeditions to the South Pole have been completed, and a second expedition team from the North Pole returned to Shanghai on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)