In recent years astronomy in China has witnessed rapid developments and remarkable achievements in the research, education and popularization of astronomy, as well as in organizational reforms. 
As the reforms got under way, the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) were officially founded in April 2001 through bringing together four Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) observatories, three CAS observing stations and one CAS research center. 
The NAOC comprises a headquarter, which is the former Beijing Astronomical Observatory, Yunnan Observatory in Kunming, Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Urumqi Observatory, and Changchun Observatory.The Purple Mountain Observatory and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory still retain their independent institutional status under the CAS, whilst at the same time being subject to the common academic and research policies coordinated by the NAOC. Close cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the universities has resulted in the creation of three research centers: the Joint Beijing Astrophysics Center, the Eastern China Astronomy and Astrophysics Center, and the Shanghai Astro-Geodynamics Center. Along with the Department of Astronomy in Nanjing University and in Beijing Normal University, the establishment of an Astronomy Department in Peking University, a Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy in the University of Science and Technology of China, and a Center for Astrophysics in Tsinghua University has further energized the training of astronomical talents.
As the reforms got under way, the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) were officially founded in April 2001 through bringing together four Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) observatories, three CAS observing stations and one CAS research center. The NAOC comprises a headquarter, which is the former Beijing Astronomical Observatory, Yunnan Observatory in Kunming, Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Urumqi Observatory, and Changchun Observatory.The Purple Mountain Observatory and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory still retain their independent institutional status under the CAS, whilst at the same time being subject to the common academic and research policies coordinated by the NAOC. Close cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the universities has resulted in the creation of three research centers: the Joint Beijing Astrophysics Center, the Eastern China Astronomy and Astrophysics Center, and the Shanghai Astro-Geodynamics Center. Along with the Department of Astronomy in Nanjing University and in Beijing Normal University, the establishment of an Astronomy Department in Peking University, a Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy in the University of Science and Technology of China, and a Center for Astrophysics in Tsinghua University has further energized the training of astronomical talents.
The rapid development of economy in China has brought in a quick increase of investments in science and education.
The national investment in astronomy at present is four times the size of ten years ago, and Chinese astronomy has indeed entered a golden period of vigorous growth. The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), which embodies an original Chinese design, is under construction as the status of a National Key Program, with a total investment of 2.35 hundred million RMB Yuan. Other projects, including a 500 meter spherical radio telescope (FAST), and a Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), have been approved as National Key Program, and will no doubt put China in the forefront of observational astronomy worldwide. Several existing major facilities, including a 2.16 meter optical telescope, a 1.56 meter optical telescope, a 1 meter optical telescope, a solar magnetic field telescope, a meter-wave aperture synthesis radio telescope, two 25 meter VLBI radio telescopes, a 13.7 meter millimeter telescope and other telescopes, have been re-equipped with new detectors that will improve their performance. A new 1 meter near-Earth object survey telescope has been installed in the Xuyu Station, Purple Mountain Observatory. The NAOC has initialized a site survey in the vast area of west China, in order to find potential sites of the best world level for next generation of large optical and infrared telescopes.During the last decades, striking progress has been made in the fields of solar physics, stellar physics, high-energy astrophysics, galaxies and cosmology, astronomical instrumentation and techniques, celestial mechanics and astrometry. 
Domestic academic activities have reached an unprecedented high level. Based on statistical data in 2004, the Chinese Astronomical Society (CAS) has 2005 members, and 296 of them are also IAU members. More than 500 young Chinese astronomers have Ph.D. degrees. Chinese astronomers publish every year more than 1000 articles, and among them more than half of the articles are published on SCI journals. The CAS holds a national astronomical conference every year, for examples the 2003 annual academic meeting in Beijing attracted about 300 astronomers to attend and the 2004 annual academic meeting in Xiamen attracted about 220 astronomers.
In addition, the CAS holds about 5 colloquia every year. The CAS encourages Chinese astronomers to attend various IAU meetings, for instance 89 Chinese astronomers attended the 25th IAU GA in 2003. Since 2002, there are 2 IAU symposiums and 2 IAU colloquiums held in China. It is for the CAS a great honor and also a contribution to the IAU to hold the 10th APRIM in 2008.
The national investment in astronomy at present is four times the size of ten years ago, and Chinese astronomy has indeed entered a golden period of vigorous growth. The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), which embodies an original Chinese design, is under construction as the status of a National Key Program, with a total investment of 2.35 hundred million RMB Yuan. Other projects, including a 500 meter spherical radio telescope (FAST), and a Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), have been approved as National Key Program, and will no doubt put China in the forefront of observational astronomy worldwide. Several existing major facilities, including a 2.16 meter optical telescope, a 1.56 meter optical telescope, a 1 meter optical telescope, a solar magnetic field telescope, a meter-wave aperture synthesis radio telescope, two 25 meter VLBI radio telescopes, a 13.7 meter millimeter telescope and other telescopes, have been re-equipped with new detectors that will improve their performance. A new 1 meter near-Earth object survey telescope has been installed in the Xuyu Station, Purple Mountain Observatory. The NAOC has initialized a site survey in the vast area of west China, in order to find potential sites of the best world level for next generation of large optical and infrared telescopes.During the last decades, striking progress has been made in the fields of solar physics, stellar physics, high-energy astrophysics, galaxies and cosmology, astronomical instrumentation and techniques, celestial mechanics and astrometry. Domestic academic activities have reached an unprecedented high level. Based on statistical data in 2004, the Chinese Astronomical Society (CAS) has 2005 members, and 296 of them are also IAU members. More than 500 young Chinese astronomers have Ph.D. degrees. Chinese astronomers publish every year more than 1000 articles, and among them more than half of the articles are published on SCI journals. The CAS holds a national astronomical conference every year, for examples the 2003 annual academic meeting in Beijing attracted about 300 astronomers to attend and the 2004 annual academic meeting in Xiamen attracted about 220 astronomers.
In addition, the CAS holds about 5 colloquia every year. The CAS encourages Chinese astronomers to attend various IAU meetings, for instance 89 Chinese astronomers attended the 25th IAU GA in 2003. Since 2002, there are 2 IAU symposiums and 2 IAU colloquiums held in China. It is for the CAS a great honor and also a contribution to the IAU to hold the 10th APRIM in 2008.
Remarkable development has been made in China to popularize astronomy. The number of planetariums has increased to over one hundred. More than 300 science halls for young people and schools are equipped with telescopes.
Nationwide popularization of astronomy and observations were organized when special astronomical events occurred, such as the Comet-Jupiter Collision, the total solar and lunar eclipses, and the meteoric showers. Tens of thousands of people were organized to observe the total solar eclipse in 1997 at Mohe. Real time broadcast was made by CCTV and more than two hundred million people watched the event on TV. There have been very active exchanges and collaborations between Chinese and foreign astronomers.Various international joint observations have been carried out and exchanges of scientists have become much more frequent than before. A series of international meetings on astronomy, as well as bilateral workshops, have been held in China. Three Chinese astronomers were elected as presidents of IAU commissions.
Yunnan Observatory has a history of 67 years. During the World War Two, the Astronomical Institution of the Academia Sinica moved from Nanjing to Kunming in 1938. The Astronomical Institution moved back after the War, while astronomical observations have been continuing in Kunming from then on. Now Yunnan Observatory has a 1 meter optical telescope, a 1.2 meter laser-ranging telescope, a 10 meter radio telescope, a solar fine-structure telescope, a solar Stokes spectroscopy telescope, and a low-latitude meridian circle in Kunming.
Some 100 staff work on stellar physics, solar physics, galaxies and AGNs, high-energy astrophysics, solar system and asteroids, astrometry and laser ranging, astronomical technology and instrumentation, methods and equipments for site survey, etc.. In recent years, Yunnan Observatory has been getting a rapid development. A 2.4 meter optical telescope has been installed at the Gaomeigu Station of Lijiang and will get its first light in the end of 2007. A 1 meter optical and infrared solar tower is now under construction and will be installed at the Fuxian Station of Chengjiang in 2008. A large radio telescope of 40 meters has been installed in Kunming. These new facilities make Yunnan Observatory a major observational base in the southern China.
Nationwide popularization of astronomy and observations were organized when special astronomical events occurred, such as the Comet-Jupiter Collision, the total solar and lunar eclipses, and the meteoric showers. Tens of thousands of people were organized to observe the total solar eclipse in 1997 at Mohe. Real time broadcast was made by CCTV and more than two hundred million people watched the event on TV. There have been very active exchanges and collaborations between Chinese and foreign astronomers.Various international joint observations have been carried out and exchanges of scientists have become much more frequent than before. A series of international meetings on astronomy, as well as bilateral workshops, have been held in China. Three Chinese astronomers were elected as presidents of IAU commissions. Yunnan Observatory has a history of 67 years. During the World War Two, the Astronomical Institution of the Academia Sinica moved from Nanjing to Kunming in 1938. The Astronomical Institution moved back after the War, while astronomical observations have been continuing in Kunming from then on. Now Yunnan Observatory has a 1 meter optical telescope, a 1.2 meter laser-ranging telescope, a 10 meter radio telescope, a solar fine-structure telescope, a solar Stokes spectroscopy telescope, and a low-latitude meridian circle in Kunming. Some 100 staff work on stellar physics, solar physics, galaxies and AGNs, high-energy astrophysics, solar system and asteroids, astrometry and laser ranging, astronomical technology and instrumentation, methods and equipments for site survey, etc.. In recent years, Yunnan Observatory has been getting a rapid development. A 2.4 meter optical telescope has been installed at the Gaomeigu Station of Lijiang and will get its first light in the end of 2007. A 1 meter optical and infrared solar tower is now under construction and will be installed at the Fuxian Station of Chengjiang in 2008. A large radio telescope of 40 meters has been installed in Kunming. These new facilities make Yunnan Observatory a major observational base in the southern China.