Partial solar eclipse in Lanzhou City

In ancient China, people ran and banged basins or gongs in an attempt to scare away the "celestial dog," which was believed to be an evil swallowing the sun.

However, in modern China, the solar eclipse means a tourist boom.

All hotels at sites believed to have good views of the eclipse were booked out as early as two years ago. On Wednesday, public squares and lakes in east China were crowded with people watching the heavens.