China looking to lead the way in space exploration

In today's fragmented society, one of the few things that still captivates people around the world is the exploration of space.

From the Apollo 11 moon landings to more recent achievements like the Artemis II manned lunar mission and the launch of China's Tiangong Space Station, mankind's ventures into the cosmos continue to fascinate.

Wang Qian is a business owner from Fujian province in China. Recently, he traveled to Hainan island to watch the latest Chinese rocket launch from the Wenchang space launch site. He says watching the launches provided him with a real sense of national pride. 

"I think it's gone from being something quite secretive and mysterious to something that's open to the public and to the world," he said. 

"It proves how strong our country has become – and that strength should now be on display to the entire world."

Zhaoquing city resident Fu Jinhua was another tourist enjoying the launch. He says there was no limit to what mankind could achieve in space.

"Maybe in 10 or 20 years, we'll have our own version of Elon Musk, and we might even be able to move to Mars – who knows?"

Mission to Mars  

Mars exploration is a key part of China’s ongoing efforts to contribute to space science and to learn alongside the wider international community.

Back in 2020 the country successfully launched Tianwen-1, its first independent Mars mission, on the Long March 5 rocket.

What's more, senior space industry officials have outlined a roadmap leading to a manned mission to Mars as early as 2033.

Closer to home the country also operates the world's second-largest satellite fleet, serving a wide variety of civil, commercial, and military purposes.

International lunar base

However arguably one of the most exciting ambitions is the plan for a manned lunar base, made possible thanks to the Long-march rockets – China's primary heavy-lift rocket capable of launching large payloads to deep space.

The Chinese Lunar exploration programme began in 2007 with the launch of the Chang'e 1 probe.

In 2019 Chang'e 4 made the world's first landing on the far side of the moon.  The eventual plan is to have an international manned base on the moon sometime after 2035.

The International Lunar Research Station is a state led project led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Russia's Roscosmos.

The business of space exploration 

It's one of China's flagship space projects, aimed at establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for research and exploration.

But China's space ambitions aren't limited to government programs. Private companies are getting involved in space exploration too.

The country's private space industry barely existed 10 years ago, yet in 2026 there are more than 400 commercial space companies currently operating – a new generation of Chinese entrepreneurs quietly transforming China's role in the global space economy.