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Beijing Ancient Observatory
- Gu Guan Xiang Tai

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...