A group of enthusiasts gathered at a Mars simulation base in northwestern China's Mang'ai in Qinghai Province to celebrate the start of 2020. The place, also known as Lenghu Mars Town, is regarded as one of the most Mars-like places on the Earth. 

On New Year's Eve, as part of the celebrations, they lit up a bonfire under the starry night sky and had a star-gazing session, in an attempt to know more about the mysterious space. 

They also held a discussion on the future of life on Mars, and the ways that can help make the planet livable. 

"If we would migrate to Mars someday, we have to decide who will be among the first group, and what their professions should be. It prompts us to think about the different professions on Earth," Gao Junling, CEO of Lenghu Lab – the company managing training courses at the base – told CGTN. 

For youngsters, however, it's a chance to get knowledge about the red planet. Some of them learned ways to assemble emulated Mars rovers – a crucial tool to collect samples from the planet's surface – involving a specially designed antenna to track the whereabouts of satellites high up in the sky. 

On the first day of 2020, those enthusiasts also went on a journey into the wilderness, and used GPS positioning system to locate resources on the martian land.

Ben Ho, an enthusiast from Hong Kong SAR, told CGTN that he had been preparing for the moment for four months, and he would like to use the opportunity to share with others the best wishes for the brand-new 2020.

Since it was launched, the Lenghu Mars Town in the northwestern hinterland has received over 15,000 visitors from across the world, and the number is expected to double in 2020. This shows the public's growing interest in deep space exploration. 

China is planning to send its first Mars probe into space in 2020. It's expected to get into orbit, land on Mars and explore the red planet in a single mission.