Rocket launches from Wenchang have drawn an increasing number of tourists and space enthusiasts to the city in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China.
Many gathered for the launch of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Friday.
Carried by a Long March-5 carrier rocket, the Chang'e-6 has successfully entered the Earth-Moon transfer orbit. It is set to collect and return samples from the Moon's mysterious far side -- the first such endeavor in the history of human lunar exploration. A group of student journalists from China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region embarked on a four-day space study tour in Wenchang's town of Longlou last Wednesday, where they learned about the aerospace history of China, and waited to watch the launch of the Chang'e-6 spacecraft.
"We have a parent-child tour group consisting of hundreds of elementary school students and their parents. Space study tours are very popular, and many parents in Yulin (a city in Guangxi) are interested in them, so many of them signed up for this tour," said Chen Junming, leader of the student tour group sponsored by the Yulin Daily newspaper of Guangxi.
On the eve of the launch mission, the Wenchang Aerospace Science Popularization Center put up a science carnival, inviting space experts and visitors for a face-to-face exchange. The center was bustling with people during the launch of the Chang'e-6, as enthusiasm for space tourism soars.
"We will stay in Hainan throughout the May Day holiday (from May 1 to 5). After watching the rocket launch, we will also explore Wenchang and enjoy the local cuisine," said Lan Qixiang, a tourist from Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province.
"In the next step, we will do a good job in activities associated with each rocket launch, invite more experts, and draw more fans to the center to experience the charm of the space program," said Han Ze, a tour guide with the Wenchang Aerospace Science Popularization Center.
On the very day the Chang'e-6 was launched, Wenchang drew nearly 80,000 tourists. Over the past two years, Longlou, a town with a population of less than 30,000, has received over 1.5 million visitors, a key driver of consumption.
Enthusiasts throng to Hainan for Chang'e-6 launch
China has witnessed a substantial increase in the number of museums built nationwide over the past decade, with registered museums soaring from 3,866 in 2012 to 6,833 by 2023, according to statistics from the National Cultural Heritage Administration in China.
This growth represents an average of one new museum added every 1.2 days. In 2023 alone, over 40,000 exhibitions and 380,000 educational activities were held in museums nationwide, attracting a record 1.29 billion visitors.
In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the Qin and Han Museum of Shaanxi History Museum, was officially opened to the public on Saturday.
The newly opened museum features treasures from the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC - 220 AD), enhanced by various multimedia technologies for display. Since this new hall began its trial run at the end of last year, it has drawn over 300,000 visitors.
The National Museum in Beijing showcases a diverse collection of significant cultural artifacts, such as a C-shaped jade dragon from the Hongshan culture, bronze heads and masks from the ancient Sanxingdui civilization, and ancient inscriptions carved on bones and tortoise shells.
Meanwhile, museums are also trying various innovative displays by using modern technology.
The Hubei Provincial Museum in central China exhibits a 3D reconstructed portrait of "Xi," the owner of bamboo slips unearthed from a Qin tomb at Shuihudi, Yunmeng County of Hubei Province.
The Taiyuan Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum in north China's Shanxi Province features musicians recreating the ancient music scene depicted in the mural "Banquet of Couples."
The Shandong Museum in east China uses data sampling and 3D virtual animation to recreate the music and dance scene of the Qi state (a regional state some 3,000 years ago) with figurines.
The Zhejiang Provincial Museum in east China uses digital means to project the "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" landscape painting as a five-meter tall, 40-meter long e-scroll, allowing visitors to feel immersed in the artwork.
Saturday marks the 48th International Museum Day, an annual event held on the 18th of May. In China, museums across various regions are attracting more visitors than ever before. As a result, historical and cultural exhibits are becoming increasingly popular and engaging with the public, presenting history and culture in a dynamic and appealing way.
China's museum numbers soar, hosting record exhibitions, visitors in 2023
