HAIYANG, Shandong, July 2 (Xinhua) -- As the summer vacation season begins in China, kids across the country are badgering their parents to book trips to watch rockets blast into the sky.
Once off-limits to the public, these secretive launch sites have now turned into unexpected tourist hotspots, giving regular people a front-row seat to the nation's soaring space ambitions.
The Oriental Spaceport in Haiyang, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, is at the heart of this trend. As China's first and only commercial offshore launch home port, it has completed 25 sea-based launches since 2019, sending 155 satellites into orbit. Each liftoff attracts large crowds, transforming this quiet fishing town into a space enthusiast pilgrimage site.
"Haiyang's golden beach has long been a popular attraction, but in 2019, when China's first offshore launch succeeded here, we realized that this combination creates a one-of-a-kind experience," said Shen Haitao, Party secretary of the Haiyang municipal bureau of culture and tourism. "Now we've turned rocket viewing from a one-time spectacle into a complete experience -- walk along Space Avenue, explore the museum, stay overnight, and come back for more."
"Every time I see a rocket soar, the excitement and pride are overwhelming," said Zhang Shouben, who has witnessed seven offshore launches. "What makes me happier is that offshore launches have become routine."
Zhang's sentiment reflects a broader shift that's underway. In 2019, China carried out its first offshore rocket launch from the Yellow Sea, using Haiyang Port as the launch site. That event sparked a chain reaction, with Shandong quickly seizing the moment to establish the Oriental Spaceport right there.
Over the past seven years, 32 aerospace projects have landed in Haiyang, led by industry leaders like Orienspace and Galactic Energy. A six-kilometer Space Avenue now connects clusters for rocket manufacturing, satellite industry, and offshore launch operations and a science museum, bringing visitors face to face with the nation's space infrastructure.
The museum, opened in July 2023, spans 12,000 square meters with 60-plus interactive displays, making it China's one of the largest space science centers. It draws families with VR, AR, and hands-on exhibits that make complex aerospace concepts accessible and fun. It expects around 30,000 visitors during the summer peak.
"We combine theory with hands-on practice, so science education doesn't become a mere formality," said Sun Yuqian of the Oriental Maritime Spaceport (Shandong) Development Group Co., Ltd. The museum offers two free tours each day and a popular rocket-building and simulated launch experience that has been a hit with students. It also sends science educators to schools to expand its outreach.
"The museum offers a full range of exhibits, immersive learning, interactive activities, and creative souvenirs," said Gong Zhen, a visitor from Sichuan province with his six-year-old daughter. "Whether for family outings or study tours, it's a must-visit in Haiyang."
The museum receives about 100,000 visitors annually, and rocket launch viewing has attracted over 200,000 tourists so far. During rocket launches, local hotels and restaurants are fully booked, boosting local hospitality, catering and retail.
"This is a textbook example of industry and cultural tourism benefiting each other," said Zhang Hua, deputy general manager of the Oriental Spaceport Group.
Zhang noted that a commercial aerospace system integrating satellites, rockets, ships, and communication networks has been built in here. "We want people to see, touch, and feel what China's space program really means."
The shift from a restricted industrial site to a family-friendly attraction is part of a broader national push. Earlier this year, seven government departments jointly issued a notice encouraging high-end manufacturers, including aerospace enterprises, to open their doors to industrial tourism to foster public pride and scientific curiosity.
Behind the tourist spectacle lies a robust industrial ecosystem. The spaceport also hosts China's first liquid-fuel rocket offshore test platform, which has supported successful trials of new rockets.
"This is not a short-term gimmick," added Zhang. "The tourism is the visible tip of the iceberg. Underneath is a complete ecosystem of manufacturing, testing, data services, and launch support."
In October 2025, the Shandong provincial government issued a plan aiming for a 50-billion-yuan (about 7.3 billion U.S. dollars) space industry by 2027, producing 100 launch vehicles and 150 satellites annually. The province has already formed a solid rocket production capacity of 50 units per year.
"China's commercial space sector is on the eve of explosive growth. As long as we stay prepared, the future is bright," said Zhao Chuanfei, general manager of Jigang Aerospace. His company, a former steelmaker, now runs Shandong's first flexible satellite manufacturing line with an annual capacity of 100 satellites.
Looking ahead, Haiyang is planning a space tourism zone with a theme park and themed hotels where guests can "sleep in a capsule," and a space culture festival featuring talks by astronauts and experts, according to Shen.
The upcoming launch in late July is already generating excitement, with viewing tickets selling out quickly. Travel agencies are bundling launch tours with museum visits, seafood feasts, and beach getaways.
For children on the viewing platform, their eyes fixed on the fiery plume rising above the sea, this is more than a holiday snapshot. It's a glimpse into a future where their dreams could reach the stars. ■
