China will soon start building its first inland research station at the South Pole and will launch a public selection for the name of the station, the authorities announced on Wednesday.

An artistic impression of China's forthcoming inland research station at the South Pole. 

The 556-square-meter station will be located at Dome A, the highest polar icecap peak at about 4,090 meters above sea level. It will be equipped with power generation, water treatment, transport and communication facilities for the needs of 24 researchers, website sina.com.cn reports.

The State Oceanic Administration has entrusted China's major news portal sina.com.cn to solicit names for the station from the general public.

The construction mission will be carried out by China's 25th Antarctic Expedition, which is scheduled to depart this October, said Li Haiqing, spokesman of the State Oceanic Administration.

The main body of the station is expected to be finished by January 2009.

Currently China has two bases in the Antarctica: the Changcheng (Great Wall) Station established in 1985 and the Zhongshan Station opened in 1989.

An artistic impression of China's forthcoming inland research station at the South Pole.

(CRI July 16, 2008)