A team comprising of 59 Chinese researchers returned Tuesday after completing a 54-day deep-sea research mission at Mariana Trench.

During the expedition, researchers tested deep-sea equipment and conducted scientific research in disciplines such as geophysics, marine geology, geochemistry, and marine biology. 

We have achieved fruitful results during the mission, according to Bao Gengsheng, chief scientist of the expedition. The team after completing the 7,292-nautical-mile deep sea mission arrived at Sanya city in China's southern Hainan Province. 

During the expedition, two 7,000-meter-class deep-sea gliders operated continuously for 46 days, making it the only abyss-class glider in the world that can work consistently for such a long period of time.

A magnesium seawater-fuel cell carried out two tests and became the first new metal seawater-fuel cell tested in the 10,000-meter abyss in the world.

In addition, researchers also used a remote-controlled robot to complete a high-definition live-streaming 10,000 meters under the sea.

"The expedition shows that China is capable of carrying out comprehensive equipment test and scientific research in deep sea and abyss," said Ding Kang, director of the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.  

(Top Image: Scientists wave at the crowd at Sanya, south China's Hainan Province after returning from a successful deep-sea mining expedition, October 16, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)