Pingtang County in Guizhou Province is not only a "summer paradise", but also a "hot land for studying". In the "Chinese Eye of Heaven" scenic area surrounded by mountains, tourists from all over the world are full of curiosity, approaching the heavy weapons of the great country and rushing towards a scientific appointment with the stars and the sea.
On September 25, 2016, deep in the mountains of Pingtang County, the 500 meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) was officially completed and put into use. It is better known as the "Chinese Eye". On July 8th of this year, the "Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST)" project won the first prize of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award. Since winning the award, its popularity in science popularization has continued to rise. Statistics show that in July of this year, the "China Tianyan" scenic area received over 220000 visitors, a year-on-year increase of over 10%.
After a close visit to the "Chinese Eye" by sixth grade student Wang Yubiao from Chongqing, he expressed sincere emotions and said, "Why is China's technological progress praised by the world? The answer can be found here." He learned that this telescope is currently the largest and most sensitive single aperture spherical radio telescope in the world, with a total reflection panel area equivalent to 30 standard football fields. He couldn't wait to send a message to students who are also interested in astronomy.
When the words in students' textbooks overlap with the national treasures in reality, the seeds of knowledge quietly sprout in the hearts of young students. In the autumn semester of 2025, a remarkable new text titled "There is a 'Nanrendong Star' in the Sky" was added to the eighth grade Chinese language textbook, which tells the touching story of Nanrendong, the former chief scientist and chief engineer of the 'Chinese Eye', who devoted his life to the scientific cause and dedicated his life to the national treasure.
This summer, many students came to Pingtang with memories from textbooks, such as the Nanrendong Memorial Hall and the Astronomy Experience Hall. Through precious images and text, they truly understood Nanrendong's scientific research original intention of leading the team to root in the deep mountains, pursue dreams, and selflessly dedicate themselves.
Pingtang County used to be a small mountainous county that was "hidden in the boudoir and unknown to the people". Now, relying on the "Chinese Eye of Heaven", Butterfly has become an international destination for astronomical science popularization and research travel. The local area has developed 48 characteristic study courses and 18 boutique routes around the core of astronomical science popularization. The newly completed metaverse XR experience hall, ball screen flying cinema and other new formats have made profound astronomical knowledge vivid and perceptible.
Mao Lu, a journalist working for a media outlet in Brazil, was curious about the "Chinese Eye" and had the opportunity to explore it on the spot. Looking at the giant device erected in the mountains, resembling a big pot, he couldn't help but exclaim that China has developed the world's largest single aperture spherical radio telescope and is able to detect such distant distances, reflecting China's investment in science.
As a national treasure, the "Chinese Eye" has not only achieved fruitful results in the field of astronomical research, but also sowed the seeds of scientific exploration in the hearts of young people through educational activities. From "watching the sky eye" to "learning science popularization", and then to "aspiring to", "China's sky eye" is becoming an important battlefield for national science popularization and youth patriotism education through immersive science popularization experiences. Since the beginning of this summer, over 300 science popularization activities have been held here, with more than 12000 students participating.
Yang Li, Deputy Director of the Pingtang County Bureau of Culture and Tourism, said that studying has become a business card for the development of local culture and tourism. Pingtang will continue to innovate science popularization formats, deeply explore astronomical and cultural heritage, improve tourism service facilities, polish its brand brighter, and provide more tourists with unique experiences of exploring the universe and perceiving science. (Outlook New Era)