Female power pushes the limits

"Piloting the Xuelong was not easy," says Gong. "We have four pilots on our team, and each works a shift to keep the icebreaker going. We also have to adapt to polar time and the constant sound of ice breaking. My body clock was totally out of whack."

Gong clearly recalls many thrilling moments during her expeditions. Estimating the ice thickness was difficult in the polar regions. The pilot sometimes got extremely nervous when making a wrong estimate, and the icebreaker would get stuck.

"The physiological structure of females and males is different, but the ocean and maritime rules treat everyone the same. We have to overcome the challenges, and I'm truly grateful for the experience to improve my skills," says Gong.

Having longed for the ocean since childhood, Gong cherishes the unity and friendships she made with other team members. After spending decades on the vast sea, she highlights the importance of "happiness, harmony and honor", taken from her experiences.

"Although male members are still the majority in polar expeditions, the women's empathy contributes greatly to the harmonious atmosphere along the journey. We connect people, liven the atmosphere, and showcase female power with our solid expertise," she adds.

Wang Nan, a 33-year-old female team member of the 32nd Antarctic expedition in 2015 and the ninth Arctic expedition in 2018, hopes to help more people learn about the polar region and raise public awareness of its protection.

Her six-month journey in the Antarctic and three-month expedition in the Arctic have been life-changing for Wang. Once a journalist, she launched a pro bono program last year to promote the polar region culture.

"The Arctic and Antarctica are more than just geographical concepts to me; they are more spiritual, as the experiences offered me immense emotional support. Whenever I encounter setbacks or difficulties, I recall my days participating in the polar expeditions, and I feel a renewed strength," says Wang.

She has also been organizing cultural events to popularize polar culture and share the experiences of female expedition team members. With their true stories of such extreme conditions, Wang hopes to inspire more women to gain confidence, unleash their potential, discover more possibilities, and push their own limits.

"Many jobs, including the challenging polar exploration, are never exclusive to males. Women can also make it if they have the will. We hope to showcase female power through true stories and drive their spirit to thrive in their careers," says Wang.