Chinese scientist Liu Shaochuang planted his national flag at the
North Pole on Saturday after successfully completing a 56-day
odyssey to become the first Chinese to reach the pole alone on
foot.
The 39-year-old arrived at the pole at 5:00 pm Friday, fulfilling
his stated ambition to travel from Asia alone on foot, and find a
suitable route for China's future Arctic exploration.
"He was the first Chinese to ski to the North Pole alone and almost
without backing," secretary general of the Polar Research Committee
of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Liu Xiaohan, who is in
Beijing, told Xinhua.
The Arctic explorer works with the CAS Institute of Remote Sensing
Application.
According to the official, Liu Shaochuang had spent more than 30
days skiing on snow covered ice, pulling two sledges loaded with
basic supplies and scientific instruments.
"He skied about 1,800 kilometers. In the middle of this, he once
returned to his base to repair equipment and then employed a
Russian plane to fly him over a section of rapidly south-moving
ice," said the official.
He
said the Western media gave wide coverage to his exploration,
mostly expressing admiration for the man's courage and
fortitude.
"The temperature of the Arctic area is usually 30 to 40 degrees
centigrade below zero and there are frequent snowstorms and
encounters with polar bears," said the general secretary.
The official said Liu Shaochuang had volunteered to make the Arctic
trip. The Institute of Remote Sensing Application agreed to cover
the expenses, as he was to do research work along the way.
He
said that before this trip, Liu Shaochuang had participated in
numerous exploratory activities in China.
(
April 29, 2002)