Shenzhou-18 astronaut compares China's manned space program to "relay"

China's manned space program is a "relay" of mission and responsibilities between generations of astronauts, said Li Cong, one of the Shenzhou-18 trio at a press conference Wednesday, when sharing his experience of "joining forces" with crew members of Shenzhou-17 and Shenzhou-19 in China's Tiangong space station.

During their mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew relayed with other Chinese astronauts twice. On April 26, 2024, the Shenzhou-17 crew welcomed the Shenzhou-18 crew to board the Tiangong space station. Half a year later, On Oct 30, the Shenzhou-18 crew "hosted" the next generation of Chinese astronauts, the Shenzhou-19 crew, at the Tiangong tation, marking the fifth "joining forces" of Chinese astronauts in space.

"The manned space program is a relay. It is the accumulated experiences of multiple missions, and the vitality brought by generations of newcomers, that drive the development of our great cause for a better future. Now, the 'relay baton' is handed to our crew. Standing on the shoulders of giants, our 'starting line' is getting higher, and the challenges are also piling up. As the saying goes, there is no 'best', but only a 'better,'" said Li.

"The two times of 'joining forces' shared similarities. We were handing down responsibilities, missions, and the spirit of the manned space program. But there was a difference: to join forces with the Shenzhou-17 crew, we were taking over the space relay baton of our 'Shenzhou family,' thinking more of how to run our leg of the race well, and were filled with responsibilities and expectations. While joining forces with the Shenzhou-19 crew, we were handing over the baton, thinking how to help them quickly adapt to space life and start working faster, our hearts filled with both hopes and reluctance to leave. Every space meeting with other crews was unforgettable, with the reluctance and sadness when parting, but also the joy and happiness of coming together. This is wonderful. As always, China's space Program is always worth looking forward to," he said.

Shenzhou-18 astronaut compares China's manned space program to "relay"

Shenzhou-18 astronaut compares China's manned space program to "relay"

The concept of eco-friendly burials -- ways of laying loved ones to rest that reduce environmental impact -- has grown in popularity among the Chinese people, especially over the past five years.

In China, eco-friendly burials comprise forms such as lawn burials, flowerbed burials as well as tree burials, which require minimal land. Sea burials and biodegradable urn burials that do not take up any land are also popular options.

Analysts believe eco-friendly burials will help to alleviate the strain on land resources, contribute to environmental protection, and also fulfill people's emotional needs for remembering their departed loved ones. The Ministry of Civil Affairs said in 2024, there were 194,700 ecological burials of ashes across the country, up 67 percent from 2019. Among them, 53,500 were sea burials, an increase of 26 percent over 2019, and 141,200 tree burials, an increase of 90 percent over 2019. Today, 28 provinces in China offer rewards and subsidies to families who choose eco-burials.

"More and more people begin to accept land-saving ecological burial methods. China's land-saving ecological burial methods such as sea burials and tree burials have been on the rise every year. China's land-saving ecological burial facilities have become more full-fledged as local governments have increased their efforts to build these facilities," said Liu Tao, director of the Department of Social Affairs under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

April 4 marked this year's Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese festival for people to pay tribute to the deceased and to worship their ancestors.

During the period around this festival, people often visit graveyards, where they traditionally pay tribute to the dead by offering food and burning incense and paper money.

In recent years, with the support from the government, many have turned to greener practices, such as offering flowers and lighting electric candles. During this year's three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Friday to Sunday, people across China made nearly 54.34 million trips to burial sites, up 14.3 percent from last year.

Eco-friendly burials take root among Chinese people