The Top of the Bottom of the World!

About the Book

Written by the expedition doctor, this is the author’s diary from the historic Chinese Antarctic expedition to build Kunlun Station in the middle of the immense Antarctic ice sheet. The expedition team not only had to ascend over four thousand meters at temperatures of sixty Fahrenheit below zero while fighting through snowstorms, they also had to overcome all sorts of difficulties, such as constantly changing plans, impossible loads, discontented construction workers, and low pay. Were they taking crazy risks? Was the expedition a foolish endeavor? The author’s account is a vivid, truthful description of this great expedition undertaken by a team of moving individuals who aren’t without their flaws and crude, or even sometimes rule-breaking, behavior. It is a story worth reading.

About the Author

Mao Yilei was born in Ningbo, China, in March 1964. After having his residency training in Australia, he earned his PhD of surgery at the medical school of Lund University in Sweden and then completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard University. He is currently a surgeon at of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. A frequent traveler and adventurer, Dr. Mao served as the team doctor on the Inland Detachment of the 25th China National Antarctic Research Expedition. He helped build Kunlun Station on Dome A, the highest point in Antarctica, and recorded every detail of his Antarctic adventures on a voice recorder pen.