NANJING - Many Chinese stargazers have started planning activities like gathering at observatories or taking photos of the "red moon" days ahead of the "most-anticipated lunar eclipse in a decade".

A combination of photographs shows the gradual lunar eclipse as seen over the skies of Beijing on Dec 10, 2011. The eclipse is the best one seen in China since the last one occurred on January 10, 2001, said Wang Sichao, a research fellow with the Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).Wang said Chinese viewers will have to wait until Oct 8, 2014 to see the next total lunar eclipse.[Photo/CFP]

Saturday's total lunar eclipse is considered the best of its kind since 2001, according to Wang Sichao, a research fellow with Nanjing-based Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"It is the best because it offers people residing in China a perfectly chance to observe the entire process," said Wang.

The next total lunar eclipse would occur in October 2014, but the Chinese had to wait until 2018 to enjoy the entire process, Wang added.

Saturday's eclipse started at around 7:30 p.m. Beijing Time and would last about six hours.

According to the latest weather forecast, the eclipse will be visible to most people living in the eastern part of the country.

On the country's popular micro-blogging sites, topics about the eclipse had received more than 2 million comments as of Saturday afternoon.

Most-replied subjects include inviting friends to share the moment or asking for suggestions on shooting better pictures.

Local newspapers and airline companies also summarized or recommended those flights offering the best vision of the eclipse in the air.

The moon turns to red during a lunar eclipse as seen from Guangzhou city, South China's Guangdong province on Dec 10, 2011.[Photo/CFP]