Gifts presented to the Chinese station team included an Antarctic Forum banner signed by the participants, a plaque stating “Antarctic Forum, Given to the Great Wall Station” to be placed in the central conference room, a copy of “Soundings” a book about Lamont-Doherty’s Marie Tharp from the Columbia team, a violin piece played by Dan Zhu, and the choral performance by the group.
A one hour visit stretched into three as the Chinese participants celebrated with song, photographs and speeches. For a station that houses a winter team of 12, the 160 visitors from the Antarctic Forum must have seemed like a festival.