Scenic spot around telescope to open to tourists

[Photo by Zhao Hui/For China Daily]

He added that the authority will improve infrastructure around the scenic area to prepare for a likely increase in the number of tourists.

The FAST is the world's largest single-aperture telescope, overtaking the Arecibo Observatory in the United States territory of Puerto Rico, which is 305 meters in diameter, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Construction of the nearly 1.2 billion yuan FAST project started in 2011, 17 years after it was proposed by Chinese astronomers.

The FAST will search for gravitational waves, detect radio emissions from stars and galaxies, and listen for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life, according to scientists.

Liao Fei, head of the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Department, said in an interview earlier this month that the telescope is expected to start a test run in the second half of this year, adding that it could take two years before the telescope completes its test run.

Local authorities have pinned high hopes on the potential impact of the FAST project on local tourism.

They hosted a hiking competition in February to invite tourists to experience the unique landscape and sceneries near the telescope.

Visitors to the scenic spot are required to deposit all digital devices, including cellphones and digital cameras, in lockers before going into the signal-free zone, as the radio telescope tolerates zero disturbance from cellular services.