The two astronauts headed for the Tiangong II space laboratory aboard the Shenzhou XI spacecraft will enjoy a wide variety of Chinese delicacies during their 33-day stay in space.

These include more than 100 types of food and beverages, including shredded pork in garlic sauce, a popular dish in almost every Sichuan-cuisine restaurant, spiced beef and ice cream, said Cao Ping, a nutrition researcher at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing.

"We also prepared congees for the astronauts if they lack appetite during their first days in space," he said. "Their recipes were designed and arranged in accordance with nutritional requirements."