For amateur stargazer Li Ren, seeing the aurora borealis - the natural light show that appears over the Arctic - will be a childhood dream come true.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," the 29-year-old said. "It simply cannot be missed."

The State-owned enterprise employee, who as a youngster had hoped to be an astronomer, will finally get his chance to see the spectacle on China's first aurora observation trip.