Star trekking

Red (planet) tourism

Mars Base 1 in the Gobi Desert of Jinchang city, Gansu province, where the topography is similar to that of the Red Planet, claims to be the only place in China that simulates the living environment of astronauts on Mars.

Located in the east part of the Hexi Corridor, it's about 300 km to the provincial capital of Lanzhou, with easy accessibility to nearby cities via road.

The project is supported by the Astronaut Center of China, cementing its scientific credentials.

The base's nine capsules, which offer different functionality, including the interior design, are modeled on authentic ones. In one capsule, seeds that once traveled into space have been planted there.

When Mars Base 1 was opened in 2018, it became the filming location of reality show Space Challenge, in which Chinese celebrities such as Wang Baoqiang and Zhang Yuqi simulated the experience of living on Mars for 13 days.

Currently, it's a place to popularize scientific knowledge about the aerospace industry and is only open for group bookings. Visitors are mostly aerospace experts, primary and middle school students, and government officials.

"It's like a simulated space station, for travelers to learn about the science of space exploration via on-site experiences with expert guides. You can see vividly what it would be like to live and work on Mars," says Duan Zhuochen, who's in charge of the base's promotional efforts on social media.

In July, it will be officially open as a scenic area to tourists, with various immersive experiences, as the second phase of construction will come to completion. There will also be a soft-opening in May, which travelers can apply to attend.

At the site, tourists can realize their dream of being an astronaut by wearing a spacesuit and operating instruments of a capsule and trying a machine that will allow visitors to experience a feeling of weightlessness. There are also restaurants, stores, a hotel and a camp site.

"We're very confident about its potential as a scenic spot, especially for youngsters who're longing for a unique travel experience," Duan says.

"There are also study tours to ignite the interest of students in aerospace."

Jinchang is not the only place in China that lays claim to "having a similar landscape to that of Mars".

The desolate scene of unevenly shaped Yardang landforms in Dahaidao, Hami city, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, reminds visitors of the set of the Hollywood blockbuster The Martian.

There, the wind-eroded landscape of Yardang varies widely, creating escarpments and ridges that form shapes resembling great creatures and fantastic castle turrets.

Tourists travel through the desert region in hardy, off-road vehicles. Shutterbugs wait until nightfall and bear the cold to capture stunning images of the stars and the Milky Way.

In 2018, Ding Hong established "Mars Base", a well-equipped capsule hotel in Dahaidao for overnight guests. Before that, pitching a tent was the only option.

By 2023, his "New Mars Base" will be completed－it consists of a hotel, reception center and science and technology exhibition hall, with avant-garde designs that are just like the set of sci-fi movies.

"Dahaidao's great resemblance to Mars has helped it to gain fame as a destination. The new 'base' will continue to provide tourists with a Martian travel experience," he says.

Ding, an avid fan of sci-fi movies, was attracted to the unique landforms of Dahaidao during his first visit.

"It fulfills my curiosity about Mars," he says, adding that he decided to build his Mars Base, because he wants to "make sci-fi a reality".