May 20, 2025, Hainan opened its first large-scale public rocket viewing facility in Wenchang. The Wenchang Yaoguang Rocket Viewing Platform was launched alongside the successful lift-off of a Long March-7A rocket, marking a major step in Hainan’s efforts to make space activities more accessible to the public while supporting local economic development.
A Purpose-Built Facility for Public Launch Viewing
Located in Dongjiao Town, near the Wenchang Space Launch Site and the Hainan Commercial Spacecraft Launch Site, the viewing platform is designed specifically for spectators. The site covers 19,000 square meters, including a 3,500-square-meter viewing area that can accommodate over 2,000 visitors at once. This makes it one of the few purpose-built public rocket viewing sites in the country.
Search for 瑶光火箭发射观礼平台 (Yaoguang Rocket Launch Viewing Platform) in whichever map app you use.
The platform includes more than just viewing space. It features educational exhibits, cultural displays, space-themed shops and restaurants, and immersive attractions aimed at increasing public understanding of aerospace technology.
It also addresses a long-standing gap in China’s space program, the lack of structured, public-friendly facilities near launch sites.
Immersive and Educational Attractions
The platform incorporates several interactive features to enhance the visitor experience. These include:
The “Time Capsule Project”, which allows visitors to store messages and hopes for the future of space travel.
The “Dome Universe Star Sea”, a holographic projection environment simulating cosmic exploration.
Concerts and performances, including themed events that merge traditional Chinese cultural motifs with space travel narratives.
This blend of entertainment and education aims to appeal to a wide demographic, especially families and students, and makes the site more than just a passive viewing spot.
Economic and Community Impact
The platform is part of a larger strategy by Wenchang to integrate space-related activities with local tourism and economic development. The surrounding area has seen rapid growth since the spaceport’s rise to prominence.
From 2016 to 2025, the number of hotels in nearby Longlou township increased tenfold, and restaurants expanded from around 230 to over 900.
The platform itself employs over 100 local residents and is expected to contribute roughly 500,000 yuan annually in collective income through a revenue-sharing model that includes tourism and support services. Local villagers have been encouraged to open homestays, food stalls, and souvenir shops to serve the growing number of visitors.
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