Bouquets of flowers, marching songs, red lanterns, huge banners and red carpets joined the cheering crowd at Beijing Space City yesterday to welcome the national heroes home.

Among them were government officials, colleagues and family members of the two astronauts - Fei Junlong and Nie Haishengwho landed safely at 4:33 am to end the Shenzhou VI mission.

The crowd became more excited as the black limousine convertible carrying Fei and Nie slowly approached the main building.

Dressed in blue military suits and wearing white gloves, the two smiled and waved to people along a 2-kilometre stretch of road for about 20 minutes.

At 10:35 am, they were greeted with loud firecrackers and a Chinese drum display a traditional way of celebration.

"Welcome home, Dad," cried Nie Tianxiang, wearing a bright pink gown as she ran to give her father a hug and a kiss.

The young Nie, 14, who sang "Happy Birthday" to her father on Thursday by satellite telephone, hung a ring of self-made paper cranes a symbol of safety and health around his neck.

Fei Junlong held his wife, Wang Jie, and 13-year-old son, Fei Di, in his arms tightly.

Both Fei and Nie's parents-in-law, who came from their hometowns, stood aside to share and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime moment, bursting into tears of joy.

After meeting the families, the space travellers couldn't wait to hug and shake hands with their colleagues, who spent days and nights on the ground for the success of the trip.

Xi Zheng, director of the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre, said he felt the heavy load of pressure had finally been lifted.

"We were working so hard for the moment they walked out of the module, and now it is all worth it," Xi said.

Millions of Chinese switched on their televisions in the early morning, watching the two astronauts get out of the return module safely.

Both of them climbed out of the module unassisted, smiling after their 115-hour voyage.

They were immediately transported for a medical checkup.

A light meal with chocolate and Chinese herbal tea were served in a first-aid helicopter.

They said they felt good and both were satisfied with the working conditions in the spacecraft.

Afterward, Nie and Fei were taken to a Boeing 737 airplane, which landed at an airport in a western suburb of Beijing at 9:28, setting the stage for the Space City arrival later.

But it will be two weeks before they can really go back to their homes. Reports said the two astronauts have to live in isolation for 14 days, but family visits will be allowed.

"The isolation is to protect them from any possible virus," said Li Yongzhi, a senior designer of the medical monitoring and guarantee sub-system at the China's Space Centre.

"The astronauts will appear physically fragile after a five-day experience of non-gravity. They need time for full recovery."

Fei Di can hardly wait for Dad to get home. He's looking forward to a chance to compete in a fishing contest with a national hero.

(China Daily 10/18/2005 page1)