Bronze instruments
On the platform.
ScareCriterion12 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Steve46814 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Steve46814 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EditQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Aaron Zhu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · EditQ — CC BY-SA 4.0 · user:kallgan — Public domain · Steve46814 — CC BY-SA 4.0
One of the oldest observatories in the world, built in 1442 under the Ming on a surviving tower of the old city wall near the Jianguomen flyover, east of central Beijing; it was the state observatory under the Ming and Qing and into the early 20th century. On its brick platform, about 15 m high and 40 m square, stand large Qing-dynasty bronze instruments, among them armillary spheres and a celestial globe, made with the help of Jesuit astronomers and cast with dragons and clouds; below, a courtyard of old halls holds sundials, more instruments and exhibitions on Chinese astronomy. Tickets are CNY 20, and it is open from 9 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays except public holidays, per visitor guides. An hour is enough, and the metro station is right beside it.
On the platform.
Qing-era bronze.
Sundials, exhibits.
South-west of the Jianguomen flyover, Dongcheng District
About an hour covers the platform and courtyard, and Jianguomen metro station is beside it, so it fits easily into a day in the centre.