The gleaming futuristic space base surrounded by otherworldly red soil may seem like a habitat on an alien world.

But the facility is actually located in the middle of The Gobi desert, the latest indication that China is taking the colonisation of Mars very seriously indeed.

Surrounded by barren hills in northwestern Gansu province, ‘Mars Base 1’ opened on Wednesday with the aim of introducing citizens to what life could be like on the Red Planet.

Beijing is pouring billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of overtaking the US in the race to plant the first extraterrestrial colony.

The desert reconstruction has a silver dome and nine modules, including living quarters, a control room, a greenhouse and an airlock.