From the 1950s to the 1970s, space-themed science fiction(SF) flourished amid the US-Soviet space race and technological advancement, with pioneers like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein exploring themes of human space exploration and contact with extraterrestrial civilisations. These narratives not only shaped the genre but also inspired future Chinese SF writers. In recent decades, as China's space technology and global influence grow, those writers such as Liu Cixin, Wang Jinkang, and He Xi have gained increasing international recognition. This paper examines how these Chinese authors build on the legacy of their predecessors, incorporating features such as "science in imagination", "anxiety over others", and "challenge to mortality" in their creation. Furthermore, it explores how they infuse their works with unique Chinese cultural elements, including "mythological tales", "philosophical doctrines", and "lyrical verses". In a word, Chinese space-themed SF is poised to delve into deeper existential themes, fostering global cultural exchange and expanding the scope of future environmental humanity studies and the imaginative possibilities for humanity's future in space.
Miao et al. (Fri,) studied this question.