'AEROSPACE CITY' SPURS SUCCESS

At satellite launch center in desert, unsung heroes help China shoot for stars

Editor's note: This year, the People's Republic of China will celebrate its 75th anniversary, marking a crucial year for achieving the goals and tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). China Daily is publishing a visual series focusing on the high-quality development of various fields, capturing the process of Chinese-style modernization through photo lenses. This week, we are highlighting the silent contributors behind China's manned space exploration endeavors.

In the heart of the Gobi Desert, nestled at the boundary between Jiuquan city in the northwestern province of Gansu and the Ejine Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, lies the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, also known as the "Dongfeng Aerospace City".

It is the only launch center for the country's manned space program, where the dreams of Chinese manned space exploration became reality.