The World Peak Planetarium, Tibet's first planetarium, has opened on a trial basis in the provincial capital of Lhasa.

Part of the Tibet Museum of Natural Sciences, the ¥186m (US$27m, £20.4m, €24m) planetarium spans 8,000 sq m (86,111sq ft) and offers a range of interactive exhibits, including projection-mapped displays and VR exhibits, as well as theatre and multimedia facilities, to teach visitors about the universe.

It will also house the region's largest telescope, developed by the planetarium in partnership with the National Astronomical Observatories.

The planetarium, dubbed the "roof of the world", is located more than 4,000m (13,123ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest such attraction in the world.

"With the highest altitude in the world, the planetarium will become a perfect window for the public to get to know the stars and explore the universe," said Wang Junjie, deputy director of the Science and Technology Department of Tibet, speaking to state-run media agency Xinhua.

Shi Shuo, an official from the Nationl Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described the planetarium as "new progress for China's astronomical science population." Adding that he hopes the planetarium will encourage children to take an interest in science and astronomy.

The planetarium will remain open on a trial-basis until April 2020.