By Hu Runxin
Few might have anticipated that a South Korean food-themed variety show would evolve into a compelling showcase of China’s capabilities.
Recently, an South Korean variety show titled Chef of Antarctica sparked lively online discussion. In the program, to express gratitude for China’s long-term cooperation and exchanges with ROK’s King Sejong Station in Antarctica, four South Korean celebrities — serving as “honorary crew members” of the station — visit China’s Great Wall Station there to prepare a thank-you meal.
What they encounter at the Chinese station defied expectations: thriving greenhouse vegetables, fully stocked pantries with diverse seasonings, and rare fresh foods like drunken shrimp and bullfrog — all contrasting sharply with typical Antarctic scarcity.
Nature, however, is full of surprises. After filming, a sudden blizzard stranded the entire 29-person production team. Facing an emergency, they requested temporary shelter at Great Wall Station.
The station chief’s instant reply — “No problem, don’t worry” — instantly eased their concerns right away. They were welcomed into clean, comfortable “snow-view” dormitories and offered hot drinks and snacks. This hospitality deeply moved the South Korean team, reflecting China’s tradition of extending aid in times of need—a practice rooted in inclusiveness and goodwill.
In such extreme conditions, this assistance not only demonstrated kindness but also showcased national capability.
Before setting out, the South Korean team had been told that at that time of year, stations operated by various countries would “likely have only frozen supplies, with almost no fresh produce.” Yet upon arriving at the Great Wall Station, the variety of food stocks amazed them — they exclaimed it was “like stepping into a Chinese supermarket.” Thanks to a robust logistics and supply system, fresh food can now be delivered over long distances and under challenging conditions.
Though designed for just 15 overwintering personnel, the station accommodated nearly twice its typical capacity. This flexibility comes from the station’s “full-capacity design,” incorporating substantial safety margins for emergencies—a reflection of strategic foresight and engineering expertise.
These achievements were never attained overnight. The composure and abundance seen at the Great Wall Station today are the result of decades of hard work and perseverance by generations of Chinese explorers.
There was a time when, without a research station of its own, China’s delegation could not vote at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. Being unable to have a say on Antarctic affairs left the delegates deeply frustrated—and all the more determined to pioneer the nation’s first Antarctic presence, achieving the crucial breakthrough “from zero to one.”
During the 1980s, lacking a permanent Antarctic presence meant China had no voting rights at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. This exclusion fueled determination to establish the nation’s first research station—a critical breakthrough from observer to stakeholder in Antarctic affairs.
China’s earliest Antarctic missions sailed forth on the Xiangyanghong 10 and J121 vessels; today, the icebreakers Xue Long and Xue Long 2 press onward through the frozen seas. Where once stood only basic container shelters, fully equipped modern research stations now operate. Over the past 40 years, China has launched five stations and two research vessels for Antarctic research, entering an era of three-dimensional development across sea, land and air.
Driven by self-reliance, Chinese explorers have moved steadily inland from Antarctica’s periphery, continually expanding both their operational footprint and fields of scientific inquiry. This vast icy wilderness stands as a testament to their unwavering tenacity, pioneering courage, and resilience in overcoming every challenge.
Friendliness, openness, and inclusiveness, along with the resolve to face difficulties and pursue excellence — these qualities are, at any time, among the most precious assets of a country and a nation. The blizzard will eventually pass, and these moving stories will continue to unfold in new chapters.
