Tianyan FAST Telescope, Dawodang, Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, China

Testing and commissioning began with first light on 25 September 2016. Initial observations will take place at lower frequencies while the adaptive primary is brought to its design accuracy; longer wavelengths are less sensitive to errors in reflector shape. It will take three years to calibrate the various instruments so it can become fully operational. Once it does, it would likely require hundreds of astronomers. However, due to the shortage of astronomers, the telescope would not operate at full capacity for a long time.
Local government efforts to develop a tourist industry around the telescope are causing some concern among astronomers worried about nearby mobile phones.
The chief scientist of the project is Nan Rendong (南仁东), a researcher with the Chinese National Astronomical Observatory, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.