A 34-member scientific exploration team from Shantou University will depart for exploration in the South Pole on Friday, Nanfang Daily reported.

The exploration mission includes 18 students and four teachers from the university and a dozen project management and support team members.

The mission will also visit the Great-Wall Scientific Exploratory Station of China in Antarctica during the their 21-day journey to the South Pole.

The mission is led by Li Dan, vice-president of Shantou University.

"In addition to scientific exploration, the mission also hopes to raise the public's awareness of protecting the earth through scientific exploration to Antarctica," Li said at a ceremony on Wednesday.

It is China's first scientific exploration mission to Antarctica that has been organized by a university.