Wenchang space tourism breaks records
This year, the southern Chinese city of Wenchang, home to the country's first commercial space launch site, is attracting a record number of tourists, as frequent rocket launches turn the coastal city into a thriving space‑themed tourism hub. When the roar of engines and the fiery trail of a rocket become the main attraction, and thousands are willing to travel thousands of kilometres for just a few dozen seconds of spectacle, space ceases to be the domain of the chosen few – it becomes a public celebration. Wenchang, once a quiet coastal town, has become a pilgrimage site for those who want to touch the stars. Rocket launches here are not just technical events – they are shows that draw crowds, fill hotels and restaurants, turning the space programme into a powerful economic driver. Foreign tourists, families with children, bloggers – all come here to watch humanity overcome gravity, and this interest does not wane but grows with every new launch.
Official data confirms the surge: in the first half of 2026, Wenchang received 5.36 million tourists, up 9.7% year‑on‑year. Major launches have caused sharp increases in visitor numbers: the launch of the Long March‑10B rocket in February alone attracted more than 70,000 spectators, leading to a sharp rise in foot traffic and consumption in the city. On launch days, the city is flooded with crowds, turning launches into mass spectacles that combine spaceflight with coastal tourism. For many travellers, this fleeting spectacle is worth the long journeys, as their reactions show. "It's so exciting! We flew thousands of kilometres just for these few dozen seconds," said a tourist from Shandong Province in eastern China. Since its first launch in November 2024, the Wenchang Space Launch Site has carried out a total of 20 launches. To date, launch pads No. 1 and No. 2 have an annual capacity of 16 launches, and the rapid development of commercial spaceflight is turning this coastal city into a promising tourism hub for foreign visitors. "We are visiting China for the first time and seeing a rocket for the first time. China has huge technology, as we can see today. It's so exciting," said a tourist from Europe. "Visitor numbers are steadily increasing. Tickets for key launches sometimes sell out a month in advance. Since the beginning of this year, the number of foreign tourists has been growing, and about 100 foreign guests come for each launch," said Huang Miaojing, operations manager of the Wenchang viewing platform.
The Wenchang Space Launch Site was officially opened in 2014 as a state launch centre, but in 2024 the first commercial launch pad was added, opening new opportunities for private space companies. Since then, launch frequency has increased sharply, and the city has quickly adapted to its new status. Local authorities have invested in infrastructure: new viewing platforms, hotels and transport hubs have been built to cope with the tourist influx. In 2025, Wenchang received more than 9 million visitors, and another record is expected this year. Experts note that space tourism is becoming one of the fastest‑growing segments in China, and Wenchang is a vivid example of how high technology can stimulate regional economies. Plans also include the creation of a theme park and a space museum, which will attract even more visitors.
As CCTV+ reports, Wenchang is steadily cementing its reputation as China's space tourism capital, and every new launch not only propels the country into space but also brings ordinary people closer to the dream of the stars.
