Dengfeng Observatory: An Astronomical Journey Through Time

In Gucheng Town, Dengfeng, Henan, lies an ancient and mysterious observatory. It is the oldest existing observatory in China and a treasure trove of history and science. The first thing that catches your eye when you enter the observatory is its unique architectural structure. The observatory is square and covered with bricks, with four walls that are regular and imposing. The spiral staircase surrounds the observatory, like a corridor of time, leading us to the depths of history. The observatory is 9.46 meters high, with a small room on top of the observatory, which is 12.62 meters high. The top edge is more than 8 meters long, and the base edge is more than 16 meters long, which is unique in ancient architecture. The stone gnomon on the north side of the observatory, also known as the "measuring ruler," lies quietly there, carrying the ancient people's exploration of the mysteries of the universe. It was used to measure the length of the sun's shadow, and through the changes in the sun's shadow, the ancients were able to grasp the change of seasons and the passage of time. Imagining the Yuan Dynasty astronomers observing and recording here, I can't help but feel admiration for their wisdom. The observatory also contains various astronomical instruments, such as the floating leak, the positive plan, the yang instrument, the scene symbol, the sundial, etc. Each of them is a crystallization of ancient technology. Although these instruments have been baptized by time, they still allow us to feel the highly developed astronomy of the Yuan Dynasty. The observatory was built by the famous Yuan Dynasty astronomer and hydraulic engineer Guo Shoujing. From 1276 to 1280, Guo Shoujing presided over the construction of the observatory, which is the only preserved ancient observatory among the 27 observatories of the "Four Seas Test" in the early Yuan Dynasty, and has become a witness to that glorious history. Today, the observatory is open to visitors free of charge from 8:30 to 18:00 every day. Here, we can not only appreciate the ancient architectural art, but also feel the ancient people's persistent pursuit of science. Standing on the observatory, it seems that we can talk to history and resonate with the ancients. This trip to the observatory is an exploration through time, which gives me a deeper understanding of ancient Chinese astronomy and makes me cherish this precious historical heritage even more.