Polar Research Institute of China

The Polar Research Institute of China (Chinese: 中国极地研究中心; pinyin: Zhōngguó Jídì Yánjiū Zhōngxīn) is the main research institute of the People's Republic of China for the study of Earth's polar regions. The PRIC is an agency within China's Ministry of Natural Resources and conducts polar scientific research, polar observation, and scientific expeditions. It is based in Shanghai, China.

The Institute manages six polar research stations (five in Antarctica and one in the Arctic), and jointly operates the China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory (CIAO) with the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis). The PRIC operates the icebreaking research vessels Xue Long and Xue Long 2.

Stations

Antarctic stations
Station	Location	Date of establishment	Accommodation
Great Wall Station	King George Island	20 February 1985	80 summer, 40 winter
Zhongshan Station	Larsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land	26 January 1989	60 summer, 25 winter
Kunlun Station	Dome Argus, Princess Elizabeth Land	27 January 2009	24 summer
Taishan Station	Princess Elizabeth Land	8 February 2014	20 summer
Qinling Station	Inexpressible Island, Ross Sea	7 February 2024	80 summer, 30 winter
Arctic stations
Station	Location	Date of establishment	Accommodation
Yellow River Station	Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway	28 July 2004	staffed: December 11, 2003 through February 25, 2004
China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory (CIAO)	Kárhóll, Iceland	18 October 2018	10 (summer and winter)

International collaboration

The institute is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.

See also

• China portal

• Arctic policy of China
• Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration
• Xue Long and Xue Long 2