极地旅游一直被视为金字塔尖上那不到5%的人，才能玩得起的"游戏"。南北极万年不化的冰雪中，蕴藏着许多珍贵的科学资源，过去这里是科学家、探险家才能涉足的神秘地带。如今，不用全副武装与严寒抗争，你也一样可以感受到地球两端那"极致的"的魅力。

极地旅游来自金库网00:2104:41

China's rich flock to poles for adventure travel

After ticking France, Italy, Britain and 24 other countries off her travel list, Chinese tourist Ma Bo selected a luxury cruise to the South Pole for her latest jaunt, where bouts of penguin-spotting were punctuated by steak dinners and afternoon workouts in an on-board gym.

在旅游清单上划掉了法国、意大利、英国及24个其他国家之后，中国游客马波选择了一艘豪华游轮去南极，作为她的最新旅程。在旅途中，除了牛排大餐和下午在艇上健身房中的锻炼，他们还可以不时观赏到企鹅。

Wealthy Chinese tourists are heading to riskier destinations in search of adventure, and demanding a high-level of comfort when they do. "The waves were huge, but the boat remained stable, and we had five-star service," said the 43-year-old freelancer, who spent Rmb150,000 ($22,0000) on the December trip.

为了追求探险，富有的中国游客正赶往风险更高的目的地，而且在这一过程中对舒适性的要求也很高。一位曾在去年12月的旅途中花费15万元人民币（合2.2万美元）的43岁自由职业者表示："海浪非常大，船却很平稳，我们也享受了五星级服务。"

China this year overtook Australia as the second largest source of travellers to Antarctica, accounting for 12 per cent of some 46,000 total visitors, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. US tourists accounted for one-third.

而根据政府部门的数据，中国公民是俄罗斯北极地区游客中的最大群体。此外，芬兰拉普兰地区过夜中国游客的人数在去年录得92%的创纪录增幅。

Interest in polar trips among China's wealthy travellers has jumped in recent years, with more than one-third planning such a vacation, according to a survey of several hundred Chinese with an average net worth of Rmb22m published this month by the Hurun Report and International Luxury Travel Market Asia.

《胡润报告》（Hurun Report）和亚洲国际豪华旅游博览会(在本月发表了一份调查报告，调查对象是几百位平均净值2200万元人民币的中国人。根据这一调查，最近几年中国富裕游客对极地游的兴趣大大提升，逾三分之一的人计划实施这类旅游。

Those surveyed had on average visited 10 foreign countries already, reducing the allure of European capitals. "It's no longer enough to go to the Eiffel Tower again. There's not much to say about it the second time," said Rupert Hoogewerf, Hurun founder.

这些被调查者平均已游览过10个中国以外的国家，从而令欧洲各都市对他们的吸引力大大下降。《胡润报告》创始人胡润（Rupert Hoogewerf）表示："再去埃菲尔铁塔就不够了，第二次去没什么可谈论的。"

Graphic designer Gemmy Zang, 36, exemplifies the trend. "I like to travel to places where there aren't many tourists," said the freelance designer, who paid Rmb180,000 for an Antarctic cruise in 2014. "I expected it would be tough, but it wasn't tough at all," she added.

36岁的平面设计师吉米·臧就是这一潮流的例子。这位自由职业的设计师2014年斥资18万元人民币登上了赴南极的游轮，她说："我想去游客少点的地方旅游。"她还表示："我以为这趟旅行会很难，其实一点都不难。"

Guo Ming, chief operations officer for HH Travel, the high-end arm of Chinese travel agency Ctrip, attributed a "rapid growth" in demand for polar trips to a rising taste for adventure among wealthy travellers. "Travel products with light challenges are what high-end travellers like the most," he said.

鸿鹄逸游（HH Travel）首席运营官郭明将极地游需求的"快速增长"归因于富裕游客探险口味的上升。他说："带点挑战的旅游产品是高端游客最喜欢的。"鸿鹄逸游是中国旅游机构携程的高端旅游部门。

The company profiles the average Chinese polar tourist as an executive and member of the "wealthy class", aged 35-50, who spends Rmb250,000 on a trip.

对于中国常见极地游旅客的基本情况，该公司描绘为高管和"富裕阶层"成员，年龄在35岁到50岁，一次旅游花费25万元人民币。

HH Travel plans to expand its Antarctic offerings. "For instance, we can organise marathons, photography, and even hold weddings for people at the South Pole," Mr Guo said.

鸿鹄逸游计划拓展其极地游服务项目。郭明表示："比如，我们可以在南极为人们组织马拉松、摄影、甚至举办婚礼。"

Chinese tours usually take place in the Antarctic summer from November to March, with time-conscious travellers skipping the cruise and flying directly. Some tours involve visits to Chinese polar research bases, such as the Great Wall Station, built in 1985.

中国的南极游通常发生在11月份到3月份的南极夏季，比较看重时间的游客会舍游轮不坐而直接飞过去。部分旅游项目还包括了对中国极地研究基地的访问，比如建于1985年的南极长城站（Great Wall Station）。

The tourism surge comes as Beijing seeks "polar power" status and increased influence at both poles. China does not have territorial claims but is constructing its fifth Antarctic station and plans an airfield there. Last month representatives from more than 40 countries attended an Antarctic Treaty meeting in Beijing.

在极地游兴起的同时，中国政府正在寻求"极地国家"地位，并试图提高在南北两极的影响力。中国在南极并无领土诉求，不过中国正在建设第五个南极考察站，并计划在南极修建机场。上个月，来自逾40个国家的代表在北京参加了一次围绕《南极条约》的会议。

Ms Ma's December trip has whetted her appetite for the globe's extremities, and she plans a trip to the North Pole this year, citing a Chinese saying. "As people say, life has two poles."

马波去年12月的极地游刺激了她对全球极端地区的兴趣，她计划今年去北极旅游，并提到一句中国老话："正如人们所说，生命有两极。"