The China Tianyan Scenic Area (also known as the China Tianyan Science Popularization Base) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction located in Hangkong ? Future International Astronomy Town, Pingtang County, Guizhou Province. The scenic area is built around the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), with the radio telescope site as its center, and includes the core area of the radio-quiet zone within a 5-kilometer radius.
The China Tianyan Scenic Area mainly consists of two sections: China Tianyan and the Pingtang Astronomy Science and Culture Park. It includes projects such as the FAST Observation Deck, the International Astronomy Experience Hall, the Astronomy Time-Space Tower, the Gate of Time, the Sky Curtain Commercial Street, the Nan Rendong Deeds Memorial Hall, and the Dome Flight Theater. The scenic area implements strict electromagnetic wave control in the core area within a 5-kilometer radius, prohibiting the carrying of mobile phones, cameras, and other electronic devices, and provides free storage services. In 1993, the International Union of Radio Science General Assembly proposed the plan to build a giant telescope. In 1994, the Dawodang depression in Pingtang County was selected as the FAST site. In 2002, it was listed as an "Important Directional Project" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In December 2008, the foundation stone-laying ceremony was held. In March 2011, construction officially began. On September 25, 2016, it was completed and officially opened, entering the trial operation stage. In January 2020, it passed national acceptance and officially began operation.
In November 2017, it was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and unveiled as a "China Science and Technology Tourism Base." From 2022 to 2023, it was continuously selected as a Guizhou Provincial Demonstration Project for Cultural and Tourism Integration Innovation. In 2023, it was awarded the title of "Guangzhou Young Pioneers Off-Campus Education Practice Base." In September 2024, it passed the landscape quality review for a national 5A-level tourist attraction and launched the construction of a big data aggregation platform. The scenic area regularly performs intangible cultural heritage projects such as Bouyei Bayin Tanchang and Yachou pottery making, and was honored with the title of "National Model Collective for Ethnic Unity and Progress." During the 2025 National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, it received 170,400 tourists, and the visiting efficiency in the core area increased by 40%.