BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China will complete construction of its first inland Antarctic research station at the region's highest peak next year, a State Oceanic Administration (SOA) spokesman said here on Wednesday.

"The 25th Chinese Antarctic expedition starting in October will undertake the building of the main structure of the new station on Dome A, which is expected to complete by the end of next January," Li Haiqing said.

The new structure will be China's third in Antarctica after the Changcheng and Zhongshan stations, built in 1985 and 1989 respectively.

Covering an area of 556 square meters and with an altitude of 4,090 meters, the inland station will be 1,200 km from Zhongshan Station, according to Li.

The station, with a capacity of accommodating 24 researchers, will be equipped with power generating, water treatment, transport and telecom facilities.

Chinese researchers made the first trip to Dome A in Jan. 2005. Earlier this year, they went there for a second time and conducted scientific research.

The SOA is currently soliciting names for the new station from the public through sina.com.cn. Each entry can suggest three names.