China's Saishiteng Mountain set to eclipse Mauna Kea as world's largest astronomy base
Synopsis
China is building the world's largest astronomy base on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai, with a 14.5-metre, 2.5 billion yuan telescope set for first light by 2030 — a direct challenge to Hawaii's Mauna Kea as the global benchmark for ground-based optical observation.
Key Takeaways
Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai province is being developed as the world's largest ground-based astronomy complex, targeting completion by the mid-2030s .
The flagship Large Optical Telescope (LOT) will span 14.5 metres and costs 2.5 billion yuan (US$369.03 million) , funded by the Chinese government and led by the NAOC .
The 6.5-metre MUltiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST) , costing 1.5 billion yuan , is privately backed and led by Tsinghua University .
Both telescopes target first light by 2030 ; groundwork, mirror polishing, and instrument development are already under way.
The site's combined light-gathering power is projected to surpass Mauna Kea , home to the twin 10-metre Keck telescopes, the 8.2-metre Subaru , and the 8.1-metre Gemini North .
Lead scientist Deng Licai of the NAOC made the announcement on Wednesday, June 6, 2026 .
China is on track to build the world's largest ground-based astronomy complex on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai province by the mid-2030s, with project scientists saying the site's combined optical telescope array will surpass the legendary observatories atop Hawaii's Mauna Kea in collective light-gathering power.
The telescopes taking shape on the Tibetan plateau
Deng Licai, lead scientist for site planning at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) in Beijing, said on Wednesday, June 6, 2026, that the instruments at Saishiteng Mountain would range from 6.5 metres (21.3 feet) to 14.5 metres in aperture, partnered by dozens of smaller instruments. "Their collective light-gathering power is expected to surpass [that of the telescopes] on Hawaii's Mauna Kea peak," he said.
The two flagship instruments are the 2.5 billion yuan (US$369.03 million) Large Optical Telescope (LOT), spanning 14.5 metres, and the 1.5 billion yuan MUltiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST), spanning 6.5 metres. Both are targeting first light — meaning practical operational use — by 2030.
Funding and institutional backing
The LOT is government-funded and led by the NAOC, while MUST is backed primarily by private capital and led by a team from Tsinghua University. According to Deng, groundwork, mirror polishing, and instrument development are already under way for both projects.
The dual-track funding model — state and private — signals China's intent to accelerate astronomical infrastructure at a pace that blends institutional stability with entrepreneurial speed.
Why Mauna Kea is the benchmark
Mauna Kea has long been considered the premier site for ground-based optical astronomy, hosting the twin 10-metre Keck telescopes, the 8.2-metre Subaru, and the 8.1-metre Gemini North. No single existing observatory matches the aperture of the planned LOT, and the combined array at Saishiteng Mountain is designed to collectively outclass the Hawaiian complex.
The high-altitude Tibetan plateau offers atmospheric conditions — low humidity, minimal light pollution, and exceptional seeing — comparable to premier sites in Chile's Atacama Desert and Hawaii.
The competitive backdrop
The push at Saishiteng Mountain places China in direct competition with major international astronomy projects, including the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) being built by Europe in Chile's Atacama Desert. The global race for next-generation optical infrastructure reflects astronomy's increasing role as a soft-power and scientific prestige metric among major nations.
If both the LOT and MUST achieve first light by 2030 as planned, China will hold a significant observational advantage in the critical window before competing mega-telescopes come fully online.
What's next
With mirror polishing and site preparation already active, the coming years will test whether China can maintain its ambitious 2030 first-light schedule against the engineering complexity historically associated with large optical telescope construction. The mid-2030s target for full-complex completion at Saishiteng Mountain will be the moment to watch for a definitive shift in global astronomical leadership.
Point of View
Pairing state capital for the LOT with private money for MUST, mirrors the approach Beijing has used in semiconductors and space launch, deliberately diversifying execution risk. What mainstream coverage underplays is the timeline pressure: the 2030 first-light target lands before the European ELT in Chile reaches full operational capacity, potentially giving China a multi-year window of uncontested observational dominance. The real question is whether mirror-polishing supply chains — still dominated by Western and Japanese firms — can be indigenised fast enough to meet the schedule.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being built at Saishiteng Mountain in China?
China is constructing a large-scale astronomy complex at Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai province, anchored by the 14.5-metre Large Optical Telescope (LOT) and the 6.5-metre MUltiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST). The site is projected to become the world's largest ground-based astronomy base by the mid-2030s.
How does Saishiteng Mountain compare to Mauna Kea?
Mauna Kea in Hawaii currently hosts the world's most powerful optical telescope array, including the twin 10-metre Keck telescopes, the 8.2-metre Subaru, and the 8.1-metre Gemini North. According to lead scientist Deng Licai, the combined light-gathering power of the Saishiteng instruments is expected to surpass Mauna Kea's once fully operational.
When will China's Large Optical Telescope achieve first light?
Both the LOT and MUST are targeting first light — meaning practical operational use — by 2030. Groundwork, mirror polishing, and instrument development are already under way as of June 2026.
Who is funding the telescopes at Saishiteng Mountain?
The 2.5 billion yuan (US$369.03 million) LOT is government-funded and led by the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC). The 1.5 billion yuan MUST is backed primarily by private capital and led by a team from Tsinghua University.
How does China's telescope project compare to European and other global efforts?
China's Saishiteng complex will compete directly with Europe's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in Chile's Atacama Desert. If the 2030 first-light schedule holds, China's telescopes could enter operation before the ELT reaches full capacity, giving China a window of observational leadership in next-generation optical astronomy.
