China's first domestically made icebreaker Xuelong 2 returned to Shanghai on Friday, marking the completion of the nation's 37th polar exploration mission. During the 179-day voyage covering 36,000 nautical miles, the research team completed supply replenishment and personnel rotation at the Great Wall and Zhongshan stations in Antarctica. They also conducted a comprehensive survey of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and marine environment and recovered environmental monitoring buoys in the westerlies.