Pingtang telescope to be centerpiece of astronomy plan

The world's largest and most sensitive single-aperture radio telescope, which already is under construction in a natural basin in Pingtang county, Guizhou province, is becoming part of a more ambitious business plan.

Local governments plans to invest 4.9 billion yuan ($799 million) to build new towns around the telescope to develop astronomical tourism, China Daily learned during a forum at the 15th Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology. The meeting will open on Saturday in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou province.

"The region will become a main astronomical tourism zone worldwide. We will construct an astronomical geopark and research and education center, and build new town houses and tourism highways," said Zhang Xiaoping, deputy director of the Guizhou Development and Reform Commission.