Named after a mythical sea dragon in China, Jiaolong is the world's first manned deep-sea submersible designed to reach depths of 7,000 meters or 23,000 feet. It's also the world's first scientific deep-sea exploration to ever reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench located in the western Pacific Ocean. The deep-sea submersible is equipped with a sophisticated hydraulic pressure system powerful enough to endure the high pressure and low temperatures at the depth of 7,000 meters. GPS system on Jiaolong allows scientists on the ocean surface to detect and track the submersible’s precise location.

Measuring 8.2 meters long and weighing nearly 22 tons, the submersible succeeded in diving 5,188 meters below sea level in the Pacific Ocean in 2011, enabling China to conduct surveys in 70 percent of the world's seabed areas. The Mariana Trench exploration will allow scientists to conduct deep-sea research for natural resources for commercial use.