Zhongshan Station is named after Sun Yat-sen, who served as the provisional first president of the Republic of China in 1912.

It is a base for research on marine, glaciological, geological, and atmospheric sciences and for expeditions inland, such as to the Kunlun Station at Dome A.

After reaching Prydz Bay in Antarctica, the ship encountered a major icefall in the night of 14 January 1989.

[4] The team proceeded to construct the Zhongshan Station at Prydz Bay in only 28 days, and it was opened on 26 February 1989.

[4][5] In January 2010, the station was visited by a delegation that included Xu Shaoshi, China's Minister for Land and Resources and Qu Tanzhou, director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration.