On July 15 2012, the groundbreaking ceremony of Xinjiang Qitai Astronomical and Science Education Base was held at Shihezi pasture, Ban JieGou town of Qitai County. Zhan Wenlong, the vice president of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Er Kenjiang Tulahun, the Standing Committee member of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Jin Nuo, the vice chairman of Xinjiang attended the ceremony.

Wu Jianguo, the deputy Secretary-General of Chinese Academy of Sciences, presided over the foundation stone laying ceremony. Li Jianguo, the Party Secretary of Changji Autonomous Prefecture, read an address of welcome. Ji Peiwen, the deputy director of Mathematics and Physics Department of National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Peng Yiqi, the deputy director of Basic Research Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology delivered speeches respectively.

After the speeches, the leadership earthed up the foundation stone for Xinjiang Qitai Astronomical and Science Education Base.

Zhan Wenlong, the Vice President of Chinese Academy of Sciences 

 Er Kenjiang Tulahun, the Standing Committee Member of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 

Guests, Staff and Graduate Students