Stargazing event promotes dark sky tourism in Hami

Perfect ending

On Aug 12, the group moved to Dahaidao. In the evening, while livestreaming the Perseid meteor shower, the photographers suddenly realized there were not only shooting stars falling across the night sky, but also a rare pinkish aurora dancing in the northern sky.

The astronomic wonder mesmerized the photographers and their excitement was livestreamed across multiple online platforms, attracting over 5 million viewers to collectively marvel at the beauty and mystery of the night sky in Hami.

"Near midnight on Aug 13, a geomagnetic storm occurred, granting us the rare opportunity to witness the aurora. With the aurora's enchanting display, the meteor shower became even more breathtaking," Wang said. "It's truly a perfect ending for this year's festival."

According to data from the culture, sports and tourism bureau of Hami, the prefecture received more than 8.46 million tourists in the first half of this year, a 9.6 percent increase compared to the same period of last year.