Brief information on Beijing Ancient Observatory  

Situated in the southwest of Jianguomen cloverleaf junction, the Ancient Observatory was built in 1442 during the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the oldest observatories in the world and famous for its integrated architecture, delicate instruments and the long history. It was known as the “Platform of Star-Watching” during the Ming Dynasty, and was known as “Observatory” during the Qing Dynasty. It was subsequently renamed “Central Observatory” after the Revolution in 1911. 
 
Covering an area of about 1,000 square meters, The Observatory erected eight bronzed astronomical instruments in succession during the Qing Dynasty. Beijing Ancient Observatory is a milestone in Chinese architecture, bearing witness to historical exchanges of Eastern and Western cultures. It is not only a unique piece of astronomical equipment, but also a unique historical treasure.  

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Beijing Ancient Observatory if you plan to visit Beijing Ancient Observatory and have language problems.

   

Chinese Pinyin: Beijing Gu Guan Xiang Tai
Opening Times: 09:00-16:30 (09:00 to 22：00 in summer)
Address: No.18B, Gaoliang Qiao Xiejie, Haidian District
How to Get to: bus No. 16