Astrophysics is a branch of science based on observation. Technological progress and observation equipment renewal has greatly contributed to scientific achievement. The use of large optical telescope like KECK and VLT with a 10-meter calibre since 1990s has embarked on a new era in Observational Astrophysics. With the development of China’s economy, the government has increases funding put in basic front fields to improve independent innovative ability. A number of national infrastructures for scientific research have been or are being built, such as The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) and Dome A, providing opportunities to catch up with and surpass world levels. However, due to historical reasons China is still weak in observational astrophysics research, which in some measure becomes the bottleneck restricting scientific returns on national infrastructures. This summer school will help to improve China’s research on observational astrophysics and reserve back-up strength for astronomy projects like LAMOST.

Many well-known scholars like Professor Michel Dennefeld, former head of IAP, were invited to give lectures of observational astrophysics. 36 Students from universities and astronomic workers from astronomic institutions home and abroad were divided into 9 groups, each led by one astronomer from National Astronomical Observatories of China, Yunnan Astronomic Observatory or Paris Institute of Astrophysics. They used the 2.16m optical telescope and 60/90 Schmidt telescope at Xinglong station of NAOC for astronomical observation and data processing and submitted theirs reports. They also visited LAMOST at Xinglong station.
The students and teachers present spoke highly of this summer school for the arrangement, teaching and observation activities.