China to have own Antarctic airfield

China is to build its own airfield in Antarctica, as the country continues to expand its footprint in the most remote corners of the globe.

The airstrip will be built to assist China's four research stations there, the Beijing Evening News said yesterday, without giving details of the specifications.

"China has four Antarctic research stations, but not its own fixed-wing airport," the newspaper said.

Researchers "must rely on maritime transport," it said, which was "seriously affecting the ability of scientific exploration".

It will be near China's Zhongshan Station, it said, without citing a source. Zhongshan is on the coast near the Larsemann Hills.

The Xue Long — Snow Dragon — icebreaker completed China's 30th expedition to Antarctica in April, three decades after the first Chinese mission to the continent.

The ship will leave Shanghai on Thursday for another expedition to the southern continent that will develop the airport plans, the Beijing Evening News said.