Hong Kong residents flocked to an ongoing exhibition that opened Sunday to take a close look at the lunar soil that was brought back from the moon by the nation's Chang'e 5 probe.

This is the first time that the lunar soil has been exhibited in the city. The sample on display is part of 1.731 kg of lunar soil that was picked up from the moon during China's fifth lunar exploration mission in late 2020.

In addition to the lunar soil, the exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai also features the nation's space exploration efforts.

According to the event's online registration system, all time slots, from Sunday to July 9, are fully booked. The latest information on the website showed that the exhibition provides a walk-in service to visitors.

The exhibition hall on Sunday was packed with visitors, including some parents with children.

The city's first black rainstorm signal of the year issued on Monday didn't dampen the enthusiasm of residents for the exhibition. After the warning signal was downgraded and the event reopened in the afternoon, some residents were seen queuing for the exhibition.

Free guided tours are available for visitors. Peter Lui Kin-chuen, president of the Hong Kong Aerospace Society, on Tuesday led 15 students in space suits to the exhibition.

The aerospace enthusiasts visited the exhibition together with a guide from the National Museum of China.

The exhibition opened after some of the nation's top aerospace scientists and engineers visited the city from Tuesday and Saturday last week.