Chongqing - The 2025 China (Chongqing) Aerospace & Defense Science Popularization Activity prepares to launch in Nanping District, Chongqing, on March 29. The exhibition, themed "Technology Empowers the Nation · Dreaming of the Stars," will run until May 7 at the Nanping International Convention and Exhibition Center, featuring three national treasures making their Chongqing debut: lunar soil samples from Chang'e-5, the Chinese flag that stood on the moon, and deep-sea water from the Mariana Trench.

Chongqing has emerged as a hub for aerospace and defense science education, hosting major events like the 2024 China Aerospace Science Popularization Conference, which attracted 17,000 participants to its National Youth Drone Competition - the largest in history - with students competing across 23 events in programming, control, and creativity. The city also integrates aerospace into primary education, exemplified by the Shanhu Experimental Primary School in Nan’an District, which served as a venue for the conference's youth science activities.

Robot could play a significant part in national defense (Photo/the 2025 China Chongqing Aerospace & Defense Science Popularization Activity)

Organized under the guidance of the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, this 40-day event spans 30,000 sqm with four themed zones displaying 500 exhibits, including 200+ iconic artifacts. The expo boasts three groundbreaking firsts: Chongqing's premier display of lunar relics, China's largest immersive "enterable" Long March rocket launch simulation, and the nation's first comprehensive defense equipment exhibition covering land, sea, air, and space domains.

Director Zhao Xiaolan of the Popular Science Department at the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics stated: "Currently, China's aerospace industry is in a golden period of rapid development. Through diverse and innovative formats including exhibitions, lectures, and interactive experiences, this event enables the public to experience the unique charm of aerospace technology up close."

The warplane models on display at the 2025 China (Chongqing) Aerospace & Defense Science Popularization Activity. (Photo/Feng Xiaolou)

A special highlight is the free public exhibition "Building the Nation's Backbone—People's Defense Industry Under Party Leadership" by the National Defense Technology Industry Administration, which chronicles a century of military-industrial achievements. The event coincides with China Space Day (April 24) and features astronaut meet-and-greets, school visits, and an "Ode to Heroes" tribute series.

The tank models on display at the 2025 China (Chongqing) Aerospace & Defense Science Popularization Activity. (Photo/Feng Xiaolou)

The expo innovatively merges education with entertainment through 54 interactive tech experiences, such as holographic theaters, solar system walkthroughs, and parent-child tank driving. A dedicated drone zone will host FPV racing, aerial football matches, and swarm performance shows. On weekends and holidays, academicians will give evening "Science Popularization Lectures" to inspire young innovators.