Built in September 1957, located at the Xizhimenwai Avenue, the Beijing Planetarium was the first planetarium constructed in China. Beijing Planetarium is a national level natural science museum. It is located on opposite corner from Beijing Zoo in the northwestern part of the city and is composed of a planetarium, an exhibition hall, a lecture hall and an astronomical observatory.

In the middle of the hall there is a Foucault’s pendulum, showing the earth's rotation. On the right of Entrance Hall is the Western Exhibition Region that displays astronomy related exhibits, while the Eastern Hall often hosts academic exchanges and report. In the courtyard are two astronomical observatories, one of which is equipped with a huge telescope measuring 13 centimeters in diameter. Visitors can observe the moon, planets, nebulae and star clusters etc. via the telescope. On the west side of the planetarium is the astronomy square with observation apparatus for the use of visitors.

Address: No.138, Xizhimenwai Avenue, Xicheng District

Opening Time: 9:30-17:30 (weekends, holidays and festivals 16:30, closed at Monday and Tuesday)

Ticket Price: price range from 10 RMB to 45 RMB

Bus Routes: Take Bus No.27, 347, 360, 362, 601, 632, 634, 660, 708, 714, 716, 732, 808, 814, 7, 15, 19, 65, 102, 103, 332, 334, 812 to get there