Space-Themed Tourism Gains Popularity in Northern China
Space-themed tourism is becoming increasingly popular in northern China. Regions like Gansu and Inner Mongolia are capitalising on their unique landscapes, which resemble Mars, to attract space enthusiasts eager to experience simulated space exploration.
Mars-Like Experiences in Gansu
Gansu’s Jinchang City, known for its expansive Gobi Desert, has established a Mars Simulation Survival Experience Center. This centre mimics Mars-like conditions and offers a variety of interactive modules. These modules include the main control cabin, biological cabin, and medical cabin, providing a realistic simulation of living and conducting research on Mars.
Visitors can explore these modules, passing through airlocks and observing the main control cabin. In the biological cabin, they can see how vegetables might be grown on Mars and sample different space foods. Additionally, the centre offers training experiences similar to those undertaken by astronauts, including high-g and rotating training exercises. A visitor shared their thoughts on the experience: “That centrifugal training simulation was hard to handle; now I understand how challenging astronaut training is.”
For children, the centre offers science camps featuring hands-on activities such as environmental surveys, Mars farming, and rocket design. These camps aim to educate and inspire the next generation of space explorers.
Inner Mongolia’s Otherworldly Attractions
In Inner Mongolia, the Wulanhada volcano group scenic area provides an otherworldly backdrop for space-themed tourism. The unique landscape attracts numerous tourists, many of whom rent spacesuits for photos.
Tu Muse, who manages a spacesuit rental store, noted the booming business: “The rental fee for an astronaut costume is 80 yuan (about 11 US dollars) per hour. The daily income can be around 7,000-8,000 yuan (about 977-1,117 US dollars).” The popularity of these rentals reflects the growing interest in space-themed tourism.
Economic Impact and Future Growth
Space-themed tourism has positively impacted the local economies in these regions. The rise in tourists has boosted the demand for spacesuit rentals, local hotels, and specialty foods. Yin Fengxian, general manager of a local guest house company, shared that they receive nearly 300 tourists daily, with daily revenue reaching around 27,000-28,000 yuan (about 3,771-3,911 US dollars).
Data from Ctrip, a major travel service provider, supports this trend. There has been a 59 percent year-on-year increase in ticket orders for space-related attractions in China and a 48 percent rise in holiday travel product orders related to space and rockets.
Conclusion
The unique landscapes of Gansu and Inner Mongolia provide perfect settings for space-themed tourism. This growing trend offers both educational and entertainment opportunities for visitors and brings significant economic benefits to the local communities. As interest in space exploration continues to rise, these regions are well-positioned to become major destinations for space enthusiasts.
