Initially
built in the Ming Dynasty (around AD. 1442), Ancient Observatory has
already had a history of more than 500 years.The Ancient Observatory
is located
in the southwest side of Jianguomen crossroad at Dongcheng District.
 Ancient
Observatory is a special topic site museum of nature science displaying
Chinese ancient astronomical equipment and astronomy. Now, it has been
reformed to Beijing Ancient Astronomical Equipment Exhibition Hall,
which belong to Beijing Astronomy Observatory and was official opened
in 1956.
This ancient observatory was built by the astronomers Wang Xun and Guo
Shoujing. Its original name was the Administration of Heavenly Observatory.
It was changed into Constellation Observatory in the 7th year (1442)
of Emperor Zhentong of the Ming dynasty and known simply as Observatory
in the Qing dynasty. It has a history of more than seven hundred years
since then.
Location
located in the southeast part of the city, east of Tiananmen Square
in the middle of Beijing, ancient observatory high up on the top of
a fort-like building at Jianguo Gate. From the avenue below, some
of the various archaic instruments are clearly visible in the skyline,
standing as anachronistic reminders of Imperial Beijing.
History
Initially built in the Ming Dynasty (around AD. 1442), Ancient
Observatory has already had a history of more than 500 years. It is
one of the oldest observatories in the world. More
information ...
Architecture
Ancient Observatory covers an area of about 10,000 square meters.
It consists of a ten-meter high brick Watching Star Platform and some
buildings, which are under the platform. Eight huge bronze astronomical
instruments are displayed on the platform. More
information...
Instruments
There are only eight in number and they were designed in the Qing
Dynasty with such classy names as celestial globe, dragon quadrant,
ecliptical armilla and azimuth theodolite. More
information...
Beijing Tour Routes Covers Ancient Observatory
We can arrange the visiting of Ancient Observatory in a Beijing one day tour
The visiting of Ancient Observatory need 30-50 minutes.
Chinatravelkey can add Ancient Observatory on the following tours with extra cost 10 USD per person:
Photo of Ancient Observatory
   
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