Stargazing and ecological tourism has attracted nearly 100 million yuan ($14 million) of investment and created some 200 jobs for the Xichong International Dark Sky Community in Shenzhen’s Dapeng district, according to a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.  

Certified by the International Dark Sky Association in 2023, Xichong is the country’s first international dark sky community. Covering an area of 10.9 square kilometers and home to about 2,500 villagers, Xichong is the site of the Shenzhen Observatory, the only national climate observatory in southern China.

To safeguard the dark sky environment of the Xichong International Dark Sky Community, Shenzhen authorities have carried out extensive retrofits of outdoor lighting facilities to reduce background brightness. As a result, not only has the night sky become more visible from the ground, but the populations of fireflies have also increased thanks to these environmental protection measures.

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The Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau revealed that the observatory welcomed 750,000 visitors in 2023, generating 70 million yuan in tourism revenue for Xichong. The number of visitors this year, as of Aug 31, has already surpassed that of the whole 2023, with hotel and homestay occupancy rates hitting 79 percent during the National Day holiday period from Sept 29 to Oct 6.

"The Xichong International Dark Sky Community has plugged a tourism gap in the eastern end of Shenzhen, which didn't have attractions other than the beaches and mountains. The development of the dark sky community is promising," Li Jianqi, a delegate to the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress, said at a Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau seminar on Oct 17.

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This article is translated by China Daily from the original report in Chinese as published on the official website of Shenzhen Special Zone Daily