Beijing Ancient Observatory, located in the southwest of Beijing near Jianguomen Bridge, was built in AD 1442, 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 equipment.

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 equipment were made by borrowing the principle of European astronomical equipment. The observatory has kept the astronomical records for almost 500 years from the Ming dynasty to 1929, and it has made the records 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

Source: This is Beijing