Shenzhou-14 astronauts have entered the Mengtian lab module of China's under-construction space station, Tiangong.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, the Shenzhou-14 crew entered Mengtian at 3:12pm on Thursday, Beijing time.

The agency said the Shenzhou-14 crew in the space station will welcome the subsequent arrival of the Tianzhou-5 cargo craft and Shenzhou-15 crewed spaceship due to be launched soon. The Shenzhou-14 and Shenzhou-15 crew members will then conduct the first in-orbit crew rotation in the country's space history.

The Mengtian lab module was blasted into space on Monday and docked with the Tiangong space station some 13 hours later. (Additional reporting by Xinhua)