In Kaihua County, the source of Zhejiang’s mother river, the Qiantang River, lies a millennia-old village where one can witness the Milky Way with the naked eye. This hidden paradise is nestled at the junction of Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces, atop high mountain terraces at an elevation of 612 meters. In spring, pear blossoms are accompanied by rain; in summer, the sky is filled with a starry river; in autumn, harvests are displayed in the autumn sun; in winter, endless snow blankets the land. After four years of rejuvenation, the ancient village has transformed into a vacation complex featuring the starry sky as a super IP, a thousand-year-old village to carry cultural connotations, and the warmth of the local people to depict life scenes. Named – “Xingsu Gaotian,” meaning stars reside in the high fields. With sparse population, thin clouds, and surrounded by mountains, light pollution is nearly non-existent, making it a natural dark area for astronomy, a protected dark sky site in China, and an Eastern China stargazing destination, renowned alongside the dark sky parks of Tekapo in New Zealand, Achi Village in Japan, and Ali in Tibet. Every summer, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye, and the Perseid meteor shower in August is spectacularly impressive; in winter, the Orion constellation is clearly visible, and the stargazing conditions are excellent year-round, attracting many stargazers from afar. This place is also the location of the Qianjiangyuan National Park, a window into the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests on the 30th parallel north, rich in ecological species, pure air, and an abundance of negatively charged oxygen ions, with a view filled with lush greenery. Mountains, forests, water systems, and villages together create the unique charm of the Qiantang River’s source. Xingsu Gaotian includes five main areas: the ancient village center experience area, the ancient village tour area, the dining area, the mountaintop dark sky observatory, and the homestay cluster area. The entire text is open all year round from 08:00 to 23:00. Service facilities include parking at the Fanjie Xingsu Gaotian Visitor Center Parking Lot with a reference price of 5 yuan per hour from Monday to Friday, 10 yuan per hour on weekends, and 20 yuan per hour on national holidays; address: Gaotian Pit Ancient Village, Changhong Township, Kaihua County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province; parking capacity: 40. Parking lot rules: 1. This parking lot is only for vehicles of 19 seats or less. 2. All vehicles entering the parking lot must obey the commands of the parking lot service personnel, park in designated positions, lock windows and doors in a timely manner, and carry valuables with them. 3. This parking lot only provides parking spaces and does not assume custody responsibility; any damage or loss is not the responsibility of the parking lot, and if any damage occurs to the buildings or facilities within the parking lot, the perpetrator must compensate. 4. Drivers entering the parking lot must comply with fire safety regulations and prohibit vehicles carrying flammable, explosive, and highly toxic dangerous goods. WIFI: Account: CMCC-1FF; Password: 88888888; Coverage: throughout the scenic area. Luggage storage: reference price: free; address: Visitor Service Center. Scenic area explanation: Scenic area map: Restrooms: Dining: Souvenir shops: Convenience stores: Shower facilities:
Fanjie Xingsu Gaotian – A Thousand-Year Ancient Village for Stargazing
In Kaihua County, the source of Zhejiang’s mother river, the Qiantang River, lies a millennia-[...]
