China · Public viewing: Limited · 2 spots, last verified 2026-10-02.
Xichang is in the mountains of Sichuan and is where many of China's navigation and communication satellites are launched. Viewing exists, but it is a managed experience, so plan on a tour or travel-agency arrangement rather than finding your own spot.
Public viewing at Xichang, Sichuan
Public viewing: LimitedViewing needs registration, a ticket, an organised tour, or is limited to a few specific spots.
Xichang has long been the most open of the three inland Chinese launch centres, but viewing is arranged: a few named viewpoints, reached by official tours or travel agencies, and the sources we read describe mainland ID and real-name booking.
A 2020 report called Xichang China's most open launch site and named two viewpoints, Qinggangba for pad 2 launches and the Benyue (Moon-flight) Tower for pad 3 launches. Travel apps then sold day tickets.
A 2023 guide says visitors to Xichang usually join a local travel agency that arranges entry to watch the launch.
A 2023 guide notes that Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang are inland and more strictly managed than Wenchang. Rules for foreign passport holders are unclear in all the sources we read.
If you cannot be there: State media (CCTV, Xinhua) stream most launches. The launch page lists the webcast when Launch Library 2 has the link.
Stay out of restricted zones. Launch sites, safety zones and military areas are closed on purpose; entering them, or photographing them where that is banned, can bring fines, detention or worse under local law. Only use viewing places that the site operator, the local authority or an accredited tour operator names, and follow staff and police instructions.
Upcoming launches and crowd estimates
No launches with a firm date from this area in the current data.
Crowd estimates are computed from launch type, local time and weekday; they are a guide, not a measurement. How we estimate it.
Map
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Good. Named in a 2020 report as the place to watch pad 2 launches (such as the Long March 3B); a full-frame camera with a 200 mm lens was enough for a good picture. Location not in our data.
Access
Through a tour or travel-agency arrangement, with mainland ID and real-name booking reported by tour listings.
Parking and fees
Not stated.
Best for
Pad 2 launches
Coordinates
Not published, so there is no map pin. Use the sources below.
Last verified
Verify before you go
No coordinates were found, so there is no map pin.
The 2020 report is old; confirm the viewpoint is still used.
Good (long lens needed). Named in a 2020 report as the place to watch pad 3 launches; a lens of 400 mm or longer is advised. The pin is a building mapped as Benyue Lou in OpenStreetMap.
Straight-line distance
3.8 mi (6.2 km) to Launch pads LC-2 and LC-3
Computed from the coordinates below; not driving distance.
Access
Through a tour or travel-agency arrangement, with mainland ID and real-name booking reported by tour listings.
Parking and fees
Not stated.
Best for
Pad 3 launches
Coordinates
28.2026, 102.0662 (approximate)
Last verified
Verify before you go
Pin comes from OpenStreetMap and may not match the viewing spot the operator uses.
The 2020 report is old; confirm it is still used and open.
Coordinate is the launch centre from Wikipedia; approximate. No Xichang launches were in our feed on the verification date.
Travel advisories and local rules
Entry rules for China depend on your nationality and change; read your own government's travel advice. Organised viewing programmes described in Chinese sources are generally booked in Chinese with real-name registration.
Entry rules, permits and security conditions differ by country and change. Read your own government's current travel advice before you plan a trip around a launch.
Fly or take the high-speed train to Xichang from Chengdu. Book through a local operator once a launch date is announced, and ask which pad will be used, since the best viewpoint depends on the pad.
Safety
Only go to viewpoints named by the operator or local authority. Do not approach the base boundary on your own. Follow all photo and conduct rules; the site is military-managed.