Recent Activity
Chang'e 6 lunar far-side sample return (May 2024); Tianwen-2 asteroid sample-return launched May 2025; Long March 8A maiden flight 2025; Tiangong cargo / module cadence steady.
Investor Brief
Exclusive home of China's heavy-lift rockets (LM-5/5B/7/8) and only viable pad for Tiangong assembly, Chang'e lunar sample-returns, Tianwen Mars missions, and the upcoming Long March 10 crewed lunar architecture. Coastal positioning is a hard prerequisite for the LM-5B core-stage debris recovery profile.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Country
🇨🇳China
Region
Asia
Established
2,014
Launches / Year
812
Years Active
12
Strategic Position
19.6145° N, 110.9510° E
Azimuth: 36°–124° (LEO, GTO, lunar transfer, interplanetary)
19.61°N — China's lowest-latitude pad; ~25% GTO payload bonus vs. Xichang and ~50% bonus vs. Jiuquan/Taiyuan. Approaches Kourou-class equatorial performance for GEO and lunar transfers.
Future Milestones
- 2026
Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission launch window
- 2028
Chang'e 7 lunar south pole prospecting mission
- 2030
Long March 10 crewed lunar landing mission target
About
Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island is China's newest and most advanced spaceport. Its low-latitude coastal location at 19 degrees North provides maximum payload capacity for heavy-lift missions, and its seaside position allows rocket stages to fall into the ocean rather than over populated areas. It is the exclusive launch site for China's largest rockets.
Key Features
China's newest and most southerly spaceport (19.6 deg N)
Coastal location — rocket stages fall harmlessly into the South China Sea
Exclusive site for Long March 5/7/8 heavy-lift vehicles
Low latitude provides energy advantage for GEO and lunar missions
Commercial launch zone under development for private companies
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Tianhe (2021) — Core module of China's Tiangong space station
Chang'e 5 (2020) — Lunar sample return mission
Tianwen-1 (2020) — China's first Mars orbiter and rover
Mengtian (2022) — Tiangong station laboratory module
Long March 5B maiden flight (2020)
Upcoming Launches From This Site
Next missions scheduled to fly from Wenchang Space Launch Site
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 5
- NET
- Pad
- 101
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 12
- NET
- Pad
- Commercial LC-2
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 7A
- NET
- Pad
- 201
- Provider
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Rocket
- Long March 10B
- NET
- Pad
- Commercial LC-2
Recent Launches From This Site
Most recent missions flown from Wenchang Space Launch Site
- Long March 7A | Shiyan 9 (XJY-6-02)China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 5B | TianheChina Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 7 | Tianzhou-2China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 8 (Core Only) | Hainan-1 to 4 & othersChina Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 7 | Tianzhou-4China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess
- Long March 5B | WentianChina Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationSuccess