China begins deep-sea research in northwestern Pacific Ocean

Xiangyanghong 09, the mother ship of China's manned submersible Jiaolong, is ready to depart from a port in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on May 16, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

China's manned submersible Jiaolong departed from south China's Shenzhen for deep-sea dives in the northwestern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday.

During the mission, which runs until June 18th, the submersible is expected to conduct nine deep dives in the Yap and Mariana trenches.

The Yap Trench has a depth of over 8,500 meters, and Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in the Earth's oceans, has a depth of over 11,000 meters.

The scientists plan to study deep-sea biotic communities and gene resources in the mission.

Jiaolong completed a dive in the northwestern Indian Ocean earlier this year during the mission's first stage.