Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
Astronomical education has been developing at an increasing rate in China since 1977. Many Chinese astronomers think that the development and the popularization of astronomical education are future human needs. For this reason, we use radio and TV broadcasts as well as planetariums to popularize astronomical education in our country. The teaching of astronomy is enhanced in schools step by step. For elementary schools many astronomical topics are included in a course under the general title of Nature. Some activities such as astronomical observation and courses of astronomical lectures are organized in secondary schools. In universities, elective courses of astronomy are arranged not only in some departments of natural science but also in some departments of liberal arts. Some students in other scientific departments are encouraged to take astronomical courses, so that universities can supply frontier science with researchers.