Dark Night Starry Sky Village! Milky Way Camping Guide

Location: Gaotiankeng Village, Kaihua, Quzhou
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🌌 Why is it worth a special trip?
Best Stargazing Spot in East China
A high mountain basin at 700 meters above sea level with almost zero light pollution. On summer nights, the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye. The village has a professional observatory open to the public for free, equipped with a 25cm aperture telescope, easily capturing Saturn’s rings. It has been repeatedly recommended by CCTV’s "Astronomy Enthusiast" magazine and is a secret spot cherished by star photography lovers.
Living Ancient Village + Sea of Rapeseed Flowers
The village preserves over 80 yellow clay rammed earth houses. In spring, thousands of acres of terraced rapeseed flowers bloom like golden waves. During autumn harvest, villagers dry chili peppers, corn, and pumpkins, with colorful crops hanging from rooftops forming a "land palette." Under the village entrance’s thousand-year-old yew tree, elders often sell wild kiwifruit (5 yuan/bag), which is sweet and juicy.
Artistic Rural Construction Surprises
An abandoned granary has been transformed into a starry sky library housing over 2,000 astronomy books; the old ancestral hall has become a café, featuring the signature "Nebula Latte" with latte art of the Orion constellation, and the window overlooks terraced fields and a sea of clouds.
🚶‍♂️ Immersive Itinerary
Day 1: Chasing Stars and Moon
✅ 15:00 Arrive and check in at "Star Viewing Cottage" guesthouse (terrace view of terraced fields, 180 yuan/night including breakfast)
✅ 17:00 Hike the Ancient Tree Secret Loop (3km/1.5h), encounter a 300-year-old group of sweetgum trees
✅ 20:00 Attend the Starry Sky Class (free! Observatory staff explain summer constellations)
✅ 23:00 Lie down on the terraced meadow, waiting for the Perseid meteor shower (peak in August up to 110 meteors/hour)
Day 2: Wild Fun Handcraft
✅ 6:00 Climb Sunrise Rock to watch the sea of clouds sunrise
✅ 9:00 Experience Traditional Oil Mill wooden hammer pressing mountain tea oil (10 yuan participation)
✅ 13:00 Make your own Starry Sky Pottery (village studio 50 yuan/session, fired pieces mailed home)
💡 Tested Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
Transportation:
🔸 Self-drive navigation to "Gaotiankeng Village, Kaihua," 3 hours from Hangzhou, the last 8 km is winding mountain road with sharp turns, beginners should be cautious
🔸 No direct bus, car hire recommended (Kaihua High-Speed Rail Station → village about 150 yuan/car)
Accommodation:
✅ First choice "Star Viewing Cottage" (telescope in room, host can help photograph star trails)
❌ Avoid newly renovated guesthouses at the village entrance (poor soundproofing and obstructed stargazing views)
Essentials:
▶️ Strong flashlight (red light source is more eye-friendly), mosquito repellent, thick jacket (only 18°C at night)
▶️ Star Walk 2 APP (real-time constellation recognition)
Real Experience: Wrapped in the guesthouse blanket at 2 a.m. watching meteors streak across the sky, suddenly cheers erupted from the neighboring observatory—it turned out someone captured a rare red sprite lightning!🌠