Chinese explorer Zhai Mo, hailing from Tai'an, Shandong, sets sail from Shanghai on Oct 10, embarking on an ambitious 18-month, 36,000-nautical-mile journey. [Photo/Taian Daily]

Chinese explorer Zhai Mo, from Tai'an, Shandong, set sail from Shanghai on Oct 10 on an ambitious 18-month, 36,000-nautical-mile journey. This expedition aims to achieve China's first-ever circumnavigation of Antarctica along the Antarctic Circle.

The voyage will first cross the Western Pacific Ocean, where Zhai and his team will experience the cultures of island nations like Palau and Papua New Guinea. The journey then heads south toward its ultimate challenge. This notorious stretch of the Southern Ocean is known for hurricane-force winds, giant waves, and treacherous icebergs, which Zhai identifies as the mission's greatest test.

After a scheduled stop at China's Qinling Station in Antarctica around the 2026 Spring Festival, the team will attempt the historic polar circle circumnavigation. Following the polar leg, the route heads north to Australia before returning to Chinese waters, with planned stops at islands in the South China Sea.

Zhai, an acclaimed artist and the first Chinese to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe (2007-09), describes this voyage as more than a personal challenge. He sees it as a "mobile ocean classroom" to promote maritime culture and polar science. By positioning it as a dialogue across civilizations, he aims to demonstrate China's enduring spirit of exploration and share its rich culture with the world.