[1][2] On July 15, 2012, the groundbreaking ceremony took place at Banjiegou for the Xinjiang Qitai Astronomical and Science Education Base,[3] which is presumably the facility that will house the telescope.

XAO has held a wide range of interesting public science popularization since it was set up.

Popular science in XAO comprises Star Party for the public, Field Trip for students, Astronomers Get into Campus, free camps for children who live in remote poverty-stricken areas, Open House Day and so on.

International collaboration is an important channel for XAO to promote the development of astronomy, astrophysics and other related fields of science.

So far, XAO has already established friendly relationship with America, Australia, Netherland, Japan, Germany, England, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan and Hong Kong.