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Ancient Observatory Review
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Ancient Observatory
Observatories / Planetariums, Chaoyang District
Fodor's Review:
This squat tower of primitive stargazing equipment peeks out next to the elevated highways of the Second Ring Road. It dates to the time of Genghis Khan, who believed that his fortunes could be read in the stars. The instruments in this ancient observatory were among the emperor's most valuable possessions. Many of the bronze devices on display were gifts from Jesuit missionaries who arrived in Beijing and shortly thereafter ensconced themselves as the Ming court's resident stargazers. They offered this technology in a bid to persuade the Chinese of the superiority of the Christian tradition that had produced it. The main astronomical devices are arranged on the roof; inside, the dusty exhibition rooms shelter ancient star maps with information dating back to the Tang Dynasty.
INFO
- Address: 2 Dongbiaobei Hutong, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing
- Phone: 010/6524-2202[]
- Cost: Y10
- Open: Daily 9-4
- Metro: Jianguomen
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