China has made remarkable strides in the construction of its space station, particularly in improving the space rendezvous and docking technology.
The Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft on Tuesday docked with the Chinese space station in just three hours, delivering approximately 6.5 tonnes of supplies to the Chinese astronauts in space.
China's first space rendezvous and docking took place on November 3, 2011, when Shenzhou-8 successfully docked with Tiangong-1, completing the operation in 44 hours. This marked a significant breakthrough of China's space exploration.
On April 22, 2017, the Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft completed its first rapid rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory in 6.5 hours during an in-orbit test.
Starting in 2021, the Tianzhou-2 to Tianzhou-4 missions all adopted the 6.5-hour rendezvous and docking plan.
On November 12, 2022, the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft set a world record for completing the rendezvous and docking process in just two hours.
In 2024, the Tianzhou-7 and Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft achieved rendezvous and docking in three hours, successfully making this method the standard docking mode for cargo spacecraft.
In the vast space, two massive steel giants, weighing tens of tons and traveling at thousands of meters per second, must connect with pinpoint accuracy.
To achieve this goal, China employs a three-level positioning principle for targeting. The BeiDou Navigation System first brings the spacecraft within five kilometers of the space station. The two spacecraft then close the distance to within 100 meters. Finally, laser radar achieves millimeter-level positioning when they are 20 meters apart.
China's lunar exploration program is advancing as a gateway to deeper space opens. Chang'e-5 and 6 successfully conducted unmanned rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, returning with lunar samples. Upcoming manned missions are set to include multiple rendezvous and dockings in lunar orbit.
China makes major advances in space station docking technology
Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city.
Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes.
"I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong.
International tourists also shared their excitement.
"It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor.
The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000.
At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood.
As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday.
An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China.
"I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist.
Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers.
A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District.
The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts.
Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping.
"The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor.
China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations.
"On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.
Shenzhen embraces influx of visitors on first day of 2026
