“Saishiteng Mountain, located near Lenghu village in northwestern Qinghai Province at an altitude of approximately 4,500 meters, is considered an optimal site for ground-based astronomical observation due to its dry climate, low light pollution, and stable atmospheric conditions. In 2021, its observation conditions were officially verified in an international academic journal. NAOC has already invested 2 billion yuan … in 2023 to launch nine telescope projects in this region and has put a 2.5-meter-class Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) into operation.”
“In particular, once the LOT [Large Optical Telescope] is completed, it will become the world’s second-largest optical telescope after the 39-meter Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) currently under construction by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. The LOT is planned to be used in observing the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang and in identifying the era of ‘cosmic reionization’ that ended the so-called cosmic dark ages. According to SCMP, the telescope will be equipped with advanced instruments such as a coronagraph, which can block out starlight to directly detect exoplanets, and a high-precision spectrograph. Most of the key components will be manufactured using Chinese technology.”
https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026060808485779444
See also: How China built the world’s largest observatory
“Chinese scientists also expect LOT to open up to the international research community once it becomes fully operational, similar to leading observatories in Hawaii and Chile.”
https://www.vietnam.vn/en/cach-trung-quoc-xay-sieu-dai-thien-van-lon-nhat-the-gioi