Though far from home, Chinese astronauts aboard China's space station hosted their own Chinese New Year's party in orbit, with a traditional New Year's Eve dinner with tasty snacks and a hearty meal.
The Shenzhou-21 trio have decorated the space station with red lanterns, Chinese knots and paper-cut craft. They have also enjoyed the traditions they usually share with their families on Earth, such as eating dumplings and delicacies that stand for prosperity, peace and good fortune.
As the highlight of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the reunion dinner was thoughtfully prepared by ground support teams for the three astronauts. For Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, who were spending their first Spring Festival aboard Tiangong, the lavish space meal was especially exciting.
With kuaiban, a traditional Chinese performance art that combines rhythmic clapping with storytelling, performed by Zhang Hongzhang, the crew unveiled their festive menu: braised pork knuckles, pork with bamboo shoots, five-spice braised beef, and sweet and savory roasted pork. Each dish carried deep cultural symbolism, representing a wish for prosperity and good luck in the year ahead.
Boiled dumplings are also a must-have.
"Pork and daylily dumplings," mission commander Zhang Lu announced.
"We eat dumplings during the Spring Festival," said Wu Fei.
"Eating dumplings in the Year of the Horse brings fortune and blessings!" added Zhang Hongzhang.
Compared with their colleagues of previous missions, the Shenzhou-21 team has one more dish on their table: freshly-baked cakes made in the space oven.
Launched on Oct 31, 2025, the space journey of the Shenzhou-21 crew has already exceeded 100 days. All tasks including scientific experiments, equipment maintenance and health management are progressing smoothly, according to the space agency.
China's Shenzhou-21 crew celebrates Spring Festival with hearty, abundant meal aboard space station
China's Shenzhou-21 crew celebrates Spring Festival with hearty, abundant meal aboard space station
