National First! International Dark Sky Community "Settles" Here in Shenzhen
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced on April 6 Beijing time that Shenzhen Xichong Community has become China's first International Dark Sky Community!
The International Dark-Sky Association is an international non-profit organization dedicated to reducing light pollution and protecting the starry night sky, founded in 1988 by astronomer David Crawford and amateur astronomer Timothy Hunter. The IDSA headquarters are located in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and currently over 5,000 members from more than 70 countries participate.
Xichong Community is located at the southeastern tip of Shenzhen, covering an area of approximately 10.9 square kilometers. It includes the Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory, Xichong Beach, and eight natural villages: Heshou, Yashan, Xinwu, etc. Xichong Community possesses the most complete natural ecosystem in Shenzhen, with beautiful scenery, a forest coverage rate as high as 90%, and rich flora and fauna resources.
The community is located approximately 60 km in a straight line from the city center, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one side. The mountain range provides excellent shielding against light pollution , creating a favorable nocturnal ecological environment and beautiful starry skies. Xichong Beach is Shenzhen's largest beach and seaside bathing area, offering ample space for coastal leisure and night sky gazing. The Shenzhen Astronomical Observatory is the city's only science education base dedicated to astronomy, open to the public year-round, making it the best concentrated area for stargazing.
△Xichong International Dark Sky Community Map
To meet the stargazing needs of astronomy enthusiasts and citizens, as well as professional astronomical observation requirements, we aim to create a 'Greater Bay Area 1-Hour Milky Way Circle', meaning places within a 1-hour travel time where one can view and photograph the Milky Way and starry skies. In April 2021, the Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau, the Shenzhen Urban Management and Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau, and the Dapeng New District Administrative Committee jointly launched the creation of an Dark Sky Community in Xichong with , upgrading the lighting in Xichong Community, formulating corresponding lighting management measures and local standards for dark sky community light environments , and carrying out improvements in community lighting quality. After lighting remediation, the dark sky environment and ecological environment within the community have been significantly improved; under clear weather conditions, the skyglow background and limiting magnitude have been enhanced, and the population of fireflies has increased significantly.
Simultaneously launched the Xichong astronomical observation signal service products, organized astronomical observation, firefly observation and other dark-sky popular science activities, and worked on building an astronomical cultural tourism market. Significant results and social benefits have been achieved, gaining widespread support from citizens, Xichong residents, investors, operators, and forces from all sectors of society.
It is understood that, taking the certification by the International Dark-Sky Community as an opportunity, Shenzhen will also promote the construction of Dapeng Starry Sky Park, continuously rectify and optimize lighting in Xichong and Dongchong, govern marine light pollution sources , improve supporting measures, advance related themed night tours, gradually build the entire Dapeng New Area into a starry sky park, and establish a Shenzhen model for international dark-sky community demonstration.
Source: China National Radio, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily