Shenzhou XIX crew greeted at 'space home'

Cai responded by saying it feels great to see "there are people waiting here for us", and that he always wished to return to the space station.

"And now I am back, and it feels very good to see all these familiar things inside Tiangong. I am so happy to see that you have run this station very well and done so many excellent jobs. We will learn from you, and please share with us your valuable experience," he added.

Li Cong and Li Guangsu said they look forward to spending the next few days with the new team, and have prepared the sleeping and sanitary quarters for the team. They said they have also prepared some "surprise gifts" for the new crew to discover and have planted lettuce that they wish to share.

After their chat, the six astronauts posed for group photos amid cheers from ground controllers. They held each other's arms to form a circle, in a spontaneous show of happiness and excitement.

The meeting of the two groups of astronauts marked the beginning of the fifth in-orbit shift inside the Tiangong space station, one of the largest and most advanced structures ever deployed into the Earth's orbit.

The Shenzhou XIX team is the eighth group of inhabitants aboard Tiangong, which was completed in late 2022. The six astronauts will work together for about five days, and the Shenzhou XVIII crew will depart for Earth on Monday.