Beijing Ancient Observatory, located in southwest of Beijing Jianguomen Bridge, was built in AD 1442 which was in the Ming dynasty. It is one of the most ancient Observatories in the world. The Observatory is famous for its intactness, long history and the delicate equipments.
Beijing Ancient Observatory in the Ming Dynasty was also called "Guanxingtai"? (Observatory for Stars). There are several delicate armilla on the platform; and, gnomon and clepsydra are also allocated in the Observatory.
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, eight large bronze astronomical equipments were allocated in the Observatory. These equipments were made by borrowing the principle of European astronomical equipments. The Observatory keeps the astronomical records for almost 500 years from the Ming dynasty to 1929, and it makes the records become the longest continuous astronomical records in the world.
Now Beijing Ancient Observatory has been converted into Beijing Ancient Astronomical Instruments Exhibition, belonging to the Beijing Observatory, and keeps working on the science field.
Travel tips:
Opening hours: 9:00 - 18:00
Entry ticket: 10 yuan
Tel: 86-10-65242202
Website: http://www.bjp.org.cn/misc/index.htm
(China.org.cn. May 17, 2008)