FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye) 中国天眼Zhōngguó Tiānyǎn

Why go to FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye)

The world's largest single-dish radio telescope: a 500 m dish built into a natural karst bowl at Dawodang in Pingtang county, completed in September 2016. Visitors see it from the scenic area's viewing deck and can visit the Nan Rendong Memorial Hall (named for its chief scientist) and an astronomy experience hall, with an XR centre and a dome film theatre alongside. It is a working observatory, so only the visitor areas are open.

The story

FAST, nicknamed Tianyan, 'Sky's Eye', began construction in 2011, saw first light in September 2016 and was declared fully operational in January 2020. It has discovered well over a thousand pulsars. A radio-quiet zone around the dish is protected by regulation.

What to see at FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye)

• Viewing deck 观景台: From the mountaintop deck you look down into the whole 500 m dish, though you cannot approach the reflector.
• Nan Rendong Memorial Hall 南仁东纪念馆: Six chapters of photographs and film tell the story of the project's chief scientist and chief engineer, and of the Guizhou people who helped build the telescope.
• Astronomy experience hall 天文体验馆: Eight themed halls built around FAST cover radio astronomy, the Sun and galaxies, with interactive displays that suit families.
• Dome film theatre and XR centre 球幕飞行影院与元宇宙XR体验中心: A dome-screen simulated flight over FAST and the surrounding karst, and an immersive XR venue where you 'hear' radio signals from distant galaxies.

How to visit FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye)

Check in at the visitor centre in Astronomy Town, store your electronics, then take the shuttle (about 20 minutes on mountain roads) and climb the steps to the deck. Allow about three hours in all; the experience hall and theatres fill the rest of a half day, and a full day suits those travelling from Guiyang.

How to get to FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye)

The site is in Kedu town, Pingtang county, about 84 km from the county seat and about 180 km (roughly 3 hours' drive) from Guiyang. The scenic area lists a coach from Guiyang's Jinyang bus station (3–4 hours) and a direct bus from near Guiyang North station that has been suspended and resumed in the past, so check current services.

Where to stay

Stay in Astronomy Town or Kedu town near the visitor centre for an early start, or in Pingtang county town.

What to eat

• Jar-stewed fish 坛子鱼: Carp cooked over charcoal in a Yazhou pottery jar, a dish Buyei tradition credits to their ancestors and the best-known speciality of Pingtang.
• Pingtang sour-soup fish 平塘酸汤鱼: Fish in a sour broth made with pickled tomato, chilli and mountain pepper, as served in Pingtang county.

Tips for visiting FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye)

• Phones, watches, cameras, key fobs and other electronics must be left in storage at the visitor centre before the shuttle to the viewing deck, because of the radio-quiet zone around the telescope.
• Entry is by real-name ticket and daily numbers are capped, so book through the scenic area's official channels and carry your passport; ask the scenic area how foreign visitors should book. Only the official visitor route is open, and offers of access to the core zone are not valid.
• The deck is reached by shuttle and about 800 wooden steps; there is no step-free route to the top.

Nearby

• Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area (Xiaoqikong and Daqikong) 荔波樟江景区 100 km
  Emerald pools, stepped waterfalls and trees growing from water in a karst forest

Also within 30 km: Pingtang Sky Bridge 平塘天空之桥 (30 km).

On the map

Open FAST Radio Telescope (China Sky Eye) on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Official website
• Wikipedia (Chinese)