China builds world's largest astronomy base on Saishiteng Mountain by 2030s
Telescopes on Tibetan plateau will surpass Hawaii's Mauna Kea in light-gathering power.
Scientists from the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) and Tsinghua University are racing to turn Saishiteng Mountain on the Tibetan plateau into the world's most powerful ground-based astronomy hub. The site will host the 14.5-metre Large Optical Telescope (LOT) funded by the government ($369M) and the 6.5-metre MUltiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST) backed by private capital ($221M). Both are expected to achieve first light by 2030. Dozens of smaller instruments will complement them, and all are designed to deliver collective light-gathering power that surpasses the legendary Mauna Kea observatories in Hawaii by the mid-2030s.
Deng Licai, lead site planning scientist at NAOC, confirmed that groundwork, mirror polishing, and instrument development are already underway. The project positions China to take the lead in ground-based optical astronomy, challenging the dominance of U.S. and European facilities. With its high altitude (over 4,200 metres) and stable atmospheric conditions, Saishiteng offers exceptional observing conditions. The LOT is designed for deep, high-resolution imaging, while MUST will conduct wide-field surveys, mapping billions of celestial objects. Together they will accelerate discoveries in exoplanets, dark energy, galaxy evolution, and the early universe.
- Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai will host the 14.5-metre LOT ($369M) and 6.5-metre MUST ($221M), both aiming for first light by 2030.
- Combined telescope light-gathering power is expected to surpass Hawaii's Mauna Kea by the mid-2030s.
- The site is led by NAOC (government-funded LOT) and Tsinghua University (privately-funded MUST), with dozens of smaller instruments.
Why It Matters
China's astronomy base will redefine ground-based observation, enabling breakthroughs in exoplanets, dark energy, and cosmology.