Rare natural resource
With its high altitude, low water vapor content and minimal light pollution, Ngari is a rare natural resource for astronomical observation, dark sky conservation and science education, said Yu Jiang, deputy director of the Ngari Museum.
The prefecture has an average elevation exceeding 4,500 meters, a sparse population and limited artificial lighting, conditions that help preserve its dark skies, explained Yu.
Opened in 2014, Ngari Dark Sky Park — located about 25 kilometers south of Senge Khabab township — is China's first park dedicated to stargazing, astrophotography and protecting natural night skies.
In 2025, the park received about 6,000 visitors. A visitor surnamed Xu returned to Ngari Dark Sky Park in August for a second time.
"We came here with a photographer during a meteor shower in December 2022 and captured some beautiful time-lapse footage of the stars," he recalled.
"The natural advantage here is the lack of light pollution and the relatively pristine environment, which keep drawing us back to photograph the night sky."
The park is also becoming one of Ngari's tourism attractions. Itineraries now combine daytime visits to the prefecture's mountains, lakes and cultural sites with nighttime stargazing, while astronomy-themed accommodation is provided at some popular destinations.
"During the day, you can see magnificent mountains and grasslands, including the Himalayan and the Gangdise mountains," said Zhou, the keen stargazer. "At night, you see the Milky Way. It's a completely different experience."
Ngari received about 3.51 million tourist visits in 2025, according to regional government figures. Although the dark sky park remains a relatively small part of the prefecture's tourism sector, its development has added another dimension to an area long known for its dramatic high-altitude landscapes.
Dai Jianfeng, an astrophotographer and a member of the Beijing chapter of DarkSky International, said the park's importance extends beyond attracting visitors. "Through Ngari, more and more people have come to understand the significance and value of dark sky conservation," Dai said.
He believes the park's establishment helped introduce the idea that darkness is a natural resource worth protecting, contributing to wider public awareness of dark sky conservation in China.
