CHINA'S research vessel and icebreaker Xuelong, also known as Snow Dragon, took off on its 7th Arctic expedition yesterday from Shanghai with a team of 128 members.

The trip will cover more than 10,000 nautical miles in 78 days.

"We plan to set up 82 research sites during the expedition, including one in the Mendeleev Ridge for the first time," Li Yuansheng, chief scientist, said. "Though the plan might change depending on the situations there. It is said there will be fewer ice in the Arctic this year."