Stargazing event promotes dark sky tourism in Hami

The live broadcast, hosted by knowledgeable Zhou, allowed millions of viewers to revel in the beauty of Hami's starry sky. "Through such live events, we hope to draw more attention to Hami's dark night tourism resources and let more people personally experience its charm," Zhou said. "Hami not only has sweet melons but also incredibly beautiful starry skies and rich cultural heritage waiting for people to explore and discover."

On Aug 11, the group moved their campsite to a meadow near the Liaodun Fire Beacon Tower.

In the rugged terrain of the Sandaoling mining area in Hami city lies the ancient fire beacon tower. Constructed with packed earth and wooden beams, the tower reaches a height of about 6 meters, with a base measuring 7.2 meters north to south and 6.4 meters east to west. Divided into two levels, the upper level features lookout holes, offering a vantage point over the vast and barren plain.

In ancient times, the beacon towers, scattered throughout the region of Hami, formed a crucial part of the military defense system. They played a pivotal role in safeguarding the Silk Road, ensuring its smooth operation and serving as a testament to the governance and jurisdiction of Xinjiang by the central government.

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and later refurbished during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Liaodun tower stands as a testament to the significant position held by Hami along the ancient Silk Road, said Liu, the official. The fire beacon tower complex in Hami comprises a total of 106 towers, scattered across the prefecture's Hami city, Barkol Kazak autonomous county and Yiwu county.

As night fell, photographers adjusted their equipment to capture the moments when the starry sky enveloped the ancient structure.

Even though the sky became a little cloudy in the wee hours, the photographers could still take timelapse photos of clouds gathering and rolling above the tower.

Photos and video clips of the historical site under the night sky were published by local media outlets and began to appear on Chinese social media platforms.

"The fire beacon tower exudes a strong sense of the times, embodying the vicissitudes of culture and history. When we photograph the galaxy and stars, we view this vicissitude from a cosmic perspective," Jiang said. "Here we can experience a strong sense of transcending time and space."