Shedding light on China's dark-sky problem

Amateur stargazers complain that their view of the universe is being obscured by the excessive use of artificial lighting in built-up areas. Zheng Jinran reports from Ordos in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The launch of Shenzhou XI on Oct 17 and its subsequent docking with the Tiangong II space lab has reaffirmed the Chinese public's love affair with space exploration and astronomy.

In recent years, the nation's star spotters have converged in increasing numbers on areas that offer unspoiled views of the galaxy, such as the Tibet autonomous region where altitude and lack of heavy industry guarantee clear night skies.