Promotional material for The Answer of Time Photo: Courtesy of Douban

Second season of 'The Answer of Time' explores life of heroic Chinese dream chasers

Following a successful first season in 2021, the newest season of talk show The Answer of Time kicked off on October 16. Season two aims to tell the story of six Chinese dream chasers from various fields ranging from the aerospace industry to deep-sea diving.

At the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, Chinese astronaut Nie Haisheng, who traveled to space in 2005, 2013 and 2021, recalled in front of the camera his unusual experiences on the job.

On the most recent episode released on Saturday on Dragon TV, the program invited Nie to introduce his life as an astronaut. Viewers were able to see not only the everyday life of astronauts on China's space station, but also the breathtaking photos Nie took on the space station while overlooking our blue planet below.

"That bright spot there is Beijing. We could also see the bright and white Himalayas, as well as Chongming Island in Shanghai," Nie said during the show while pointing out places on a photo. 

"My favorite activity was looking for my hometown in Hubei Province, which is along a big corner of the Yangtze River."

From staples to the side courses, the astronaut also introduced the daily food they ate, such as traditional fusion desserts like cheese Osmanthus cakes.

During the show, host Chen Chen explores the stories behind the lives of all the guests during interviews, giving them the opportunity to share the challenges and successes they have experienced in their lives. 

"The last time I went to my hometown was after the astronaut selection for the Shenzhou No.12 mission around the 10th anniversary of my mother's death. When she was alive, she didn't talk much, but always told me to be someone who could serve the country," Nie recalled during the interview.

In addition to aerospace industry insiders, other guests include Ye Cong, chief designer of China's deep-sea submersible Fendouzhe (Striver); Li Guilin and Lu Jianfen, teachers at primary schools in what was once one of the poorest regions in China; and other professionals in fields such as environmental protection, law and archaeology.

Forty-two-year-old engineer Ye Cong was another guest on the show, introducing his life and career as an engineering student as well as a submersible pilot.

Global Times