China's 16th Arctic expedition has returned with first-hand data from the Arctic Ocean. The Xuelong and Xuelong 2 icebreakers have returned to Shanghai after nearly three months, while two other vessels remain at sea. The team completed 19 ice station surveys, moving from summer sampling to year-round monitoring. Their observations fill gaps that satellites cannot capture, improving sea ice forecasts and global climate models. The data will also improve weather forecasts along the Northeast Passage and support disaster prevention and response.