Two Chinese icebreakers, Xuelong and Xuelong 2, are en route to Antarctica carrying 4,000 tonnes of supplies for China's 42nd Antarctic expedition. The mission started in Shanghai on November 1 and aims to resupply the country's Zhongshan and Qinling research stations. Xuelong will stop in Australia to pick up researchers before heading to Zhongshan, while Xuelong 2 will go directly to the station.