While most of us were hitting snooze buttons last week, over 100 space enthusiasts braved a 4 a.m. wake-up call to watch China’s Long March-12 rocket pierce the pre-dawn darkness from Hainan’s Wenchang on December 12. The commercial mission turned Qishui Bay into an open-air theater – complete with countdown chants and smartphone flashes ✨.
Tourist Thrills vs. Local Routine
For travelers like 24-year-old Malaysian student Li Wei, it was a bucket-list moment: "I’ve watched 37 launch livestreams – but feeling the roar in my chest? Next level." Meanwhile, just 5 km away in Longlou Town, fruit vendor Chen Xiaoli was already slicing pineapples as the rocket’s contrail faded. "We used to stop and stare," she laughed. "Now it’s launch first, lychee sales later."
Hainan’s New Normal
By sunrise, the launch site’s floodlights dimmed as breakfast stalls fired up woks. While space agencies analyzed flight data, tourists debated whether to nap or hit the beach 🏖️. As one local put it: "Rockets make the headlines – but our coconut buns still need baking."
