The return capsule of the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft carrying three taikonauts, the Chinese name for astronauts, touches down at the Dongfeng landing site in the Gobi Desert, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sunday night. Photo: China Manned Space Engineering Office

Technicians and medical personnel check on the three astronauts, who stayed at the Tiangong space station for six months. Photo: Lian Zhen/Xinhua

Shenzhou-14 mission commander Chen Dong salutes ground workers. He is the first Chinese astronaut to stay in orbit for over 200 days. Photo: Xinhua

Astronaut Cai Xuzhe is carried out of the return capsule. It was the first time a manned Chinese spacecraft has returned to the Dongfeng landing site at night. Photo: Xinhua

China’s first female astronaut Liu Yang waves to ground workers. Photo: Xinhua

The trio arrived in Beijing on Monday, where they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments. Photo: China Manned Space Engineering

A scientist sorts through the rice samples brought back to Earth by the Shenzhou-14 return capsule. It’s the first time that rice seeds were grown in space, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Photo: CAS

Cai Xuzhe, Liu Yang and Chen Dong (from left to right) make a public appearance at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China’s Gansu province on June 5, before they were sent to the space station. Photo: China Manned Space Engineering Office/VCG