The unforgettable peak of the magnificent Perseid meteor shower attracted hordes of folks to a very special observation site on the weekend of Aug 12-13 – called the Damao Xianbei Xingchen Mountain - which is located in Songyang county, in East China's Zhejiang province.

It's renowned as one of China's top hotspots for stargazing and last year Damao Xianbei was included in the first list of 15 natural wonders of China, selected by the China Meteorological Service Association.

The site's conditions for stargazing meet the standards set by the International Dark-Sky Association, allowing naked-eye observation of the Milky Way without the need of equipment.

According to statistics, the number of people visiting Songyang county for stargazing in the first half of this year increased 50 percent compared with the previous year.

Breathtaking natural beauty abounds in Damao Xianbei, known as one of China's top hotspots for stargazing. [Photo/Tide News]

Songyang county has been promoting green development for years. It boasts a vast forest area of 1.68 million mu (112,000 hectares), covering 80.18 percent of the land.

With a remarkable air quality rate of 99 percent and a nine-year streak of excellent water quality in provincial assessments, the county's pristine ecological setting provides an ideal backdrop for stargazing enthusiasts.

What's more, Songyang county has been pushing forwards various projects – such as the Starry Sky Museum and high-end camping facilities – to boost the local astronomy industry.

The projects have generated employment opportunities for over 15,000 people in the surrounding areas. Besides Songyang, other regions in Zhejiang province have also leveraged their natural advantages, turning their scenic environments into drivers of development and exploring new paths for the growth of mountainous areas.