China - August 16, 2024

Mars simulation odyssey draws tourists to deep Gobi desert in northwest China

(Voice_over)

Driving hundreds of miles deep into the Gobi desert could be tiresome, but what if the journey felt like a voyage on Mars?

(Sound_bite)

Li Jianxin, Tourist:

I’d recommend my friends to see this vast, stunning landscape. The audio guide is also quite engaging, giving us an immersive Mars experience.

(Voice_over)

Li Jianxin is just one of the many adventurers. This summer, over forty thousand tourists have embarked on their space-themed journey.

(Voice_over)

Beyond the surreal landscape and spectacular stargazing, the campsite offers activities like rocket experiments, geology exploration, and wireless communication.

(Stand_up)

Wan Hongjia, Reporter:

"Look at these sleek mountains and sand dunes. Here, people envisioned a space journey fueled by their wildest imagination. Yet, it's hard to believe this place was once an abandoned oil production base."

(Voice_over)

Nature’s endowment is limited. Once the crude oil was exhausted, the town found itself on the wane.

In 2015, locals considered developing tourism centered around their Yardang landform. Their excitement grew when China’s Zhurong rover returned the first images of Mars, revealing a striking resemblance between the two landscapes.

(Sound_bite)

Yuan Zhenmin, Executive Deputy General Manager, Lenghu Mars Town Culture and Tourism Development Company, Qinghai Province:

"Our Mars camp is expanding to accommodate more high-end clients, science education programs, and self-driving tourists."

(Voice_over)

Despite its remote location and challenging access, Yuan talks of plans to build more infrastructure – just like the previous “Mars No. 1 Highway” – in an effort to attract even more visitors to this mystical land.

[Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]