[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Ancient Observatory (Guguanxiangtai) (Updated Apr)

This may be a small or short trip but it’s worth it. It cost me about ¥10 and I was there about an hour but it’s lovely. Not very busy which I love so you can take your time and walk around. It’s near some of the city wall ruins so you can add a couple more things to make it a fuller day or you can simply do that then have plenty of time to do something else. On its own its very enjoyable. Easy to get to, there is a train station not to far away, about a five minute walk but apple maps told me it was more like fifteen so keep your eyes open incase your map is off as well. I will say I almost didn’t go because guards aren’t that polite telling you were the correct entrance is but what ever.

Historical walk in Beijing We started of at the ancient observatory It’s very cool to walk around in this little park. It was originally built in 1442 as one of the world's earliest royal observatories and it used to be called star observation platform. 📍Jianguomen subway exit C 💰10 CNY From there we walked to the Ming Dynasty City wall relics park by the southern corner tower. There is a display of the history of the old city wall in pictures inside and as you walk on the wall you can find this very cozy little cafe. They serve excellent coffee. The spring time is an absolute amazing time to walk here among the blossom. We had an amazing time and ended up in the Hutongs near Beijing railway station called Chuanban Hutongs. #springwander #beijing #citywalkflowers #chinatrip

China Customs Museum, explore the millennial epic of the national gate key, the "low-key national gate guardian" China Customs Museum is located on Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, adjacent to the Ancient Observatory and Chang'an Street, is a national industry museum with classical garden architecture as the carrier. It is not only a hall for the collection of customs cultural relics, but also a microcosm of China's thousand-year customs history - from the military defense of the Western Zhou Dynasty to the humiliation and struggle of the modern foreign customs, to the rise of the customs of New China, every step writes the vicissitudes and glory behind the national gate. The characteristics of no appointment and free opening make it an ideal place for tourists to deeply understand the history of Chinese trade and diplomacy. 🌟 Highlights: The key to the national gate through time and space 1. Ancient Pass: The historical echo of the yellow sand camel bell Stepping into the second-floor exhibition hall, the imitation ancient city gate and the Great Wall relief instantly bring people back to the ancient pass. The Western Zhou "Guan" tile and the relics of the Han Hangu Pass tell the evolution of the checkpoint from military defense to tax and smuggling. The miniature model and documentary of the "Thirteen Lines" of the Qing Dynasty reproduce the prosperity of Guangzhou's one-port trade and the rise and fall of monopoly trade, and the scene of the Jiujiang Pass painted on the blue and white porcelain bowl of the Qianlong period is the finishing touch. 2. Modern Customs: The contradictory imprint of the foreign customs era The "Customs Power Lost" exhibition area restores the historical scene of the British Hurd in charge of the Customs General Taxation Department for 50 years, and his office supplies, China's first set of dragon stamps, and the lighthouse map with "Qiong Customs 1893" engraved on it are lamentable. The wooden plaque of "Tianjin New Customs" inscribed by Li Hongzhang and the oil paintings of the seven foreign customs buildings are not only witnesses of humiliation, but also the enlightenment of the modern customs management system. 3. Customs of New China: Guardians of Science and Blood The interactive exhibition of "Mirror of Time" compares the evolution of early unpacking inspection and modern single-soldier scanning equipment, showing the progress of science and technology. The smuggled treasures seized are shocking - 2-meter-long narwhal teeth, ivory carvings "Immortals Celebrating Birthday", Siberian tiger skins, etc., each of which is a medal of customs and crime fighting. 4. "Customs 902" boat: The legend of maritime anti-smuggling The "Customs 902" boat in the underground exhibition hall has carried out more than 900 anti-smuggling missions and has become a treasure of the town after retirement. In the immersive scene, the ship seems to be riding the waves, with light and shadow and sea wave sound effects, recreating the magnificent epic of guarding the sea frontier. ❤ Practical information: Efficient travel guide 📍 Detailed address: No. 6 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (near Jianguomen Subway Station) 🕙 Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (16:00 stop admission, closed on Mondays) 💰 Per capita consumption: free, no appointment required ⏳ Play time: 2-3 hours (including special exhibition hall) 🚉 Transportation strategy: Exit C of Jianguomen Station of Metro Line 1/2, walk about 5 minutes. 🗓 Tour route: First floor: New China Customs Exhibition Area (Science and Technology Interaction + Smuggled Goods Exhibition) → Second floor: Ancient Pass → Modern Customs (focus on Hurd cultural relics and foreign customs oil paintings) → Basement floor: "Customs 902" boat special exhibition hall → Exit Square: Customs General Administration Building and Ancient Observatory exterior check-in. 🖼 Surrounding tours: The intertwining of history and modernity 1️⃣ Ancient Observatory (3 minutes walk): Ming and Qing dynasties royal observatory, across the street from the museum. - 2️⃣ Dongjiaomin Lane (10 minutes by bike): Modern embassy building complex, feel the historical afterglow of "semi-colonial". - 3️⃣ Wangfujing Business District (2 subway stations): Visit old brands and trendy shops, one-stop to meet taste buds and shopping desires. 📝 Note tips: ❤️ Explanation service: Free explanation is provided at a fixed point every day (10:00/14:00), in-depth interpretation of the stormy story behind the cultural relics. ❤️ Photo suggestion: The second floor "Hangu Pass" city gate relief, the basement floor "902 boat" light and shadow area is extremely high. -❤️ Best time: There are fewer tourists in the afternoon on weekdays, and you can stagger the peak to the opening or closing 1 hour before the weekend.

Ah, as beautiful as a love letter, the picturesque descriptions of the flowers intoxicate me. It feels like I've arrived at the beautiful garden French restaurant, Fook Lam Moon, on Xiaoyun Road, where the air is filled with French romance and elegance. The Valentine's Day market has already opened, like a feast for the eyes and emotions. The intense love spreads in every corner, impossible to ignore. And the romantic sea of flowers is undoubtedly the best gift for every girl, with each flower telling a different sweet story. In front of the wishing wall, couples leave their wishes, looking forward to a beautiful future. And the photo spots are irresistible to every girl. Whether it's the carefully arranged scenes or the props full of ambiance, they make people want to capture beautiful memories. For couples planning to walk down the aisle, this place also offers wedding planning services. They can plan their perfect wedding in this love-filled place. And those single people who come to check in can also find their own fun, with exclusive single gift bags and super cool sunglasses waiting for them. This Valentine's Day, Fook Lam Moon Garden French Restaurant is undoubtedly a good choice. Whether you want to spend a romantic time with your loved one or enjoy this special day alone, this place can meet your needs. Come on, make this Valentine's Day no longer monotonous, and find your own romance and sweetness at Fook Lam Moon Garden French Restaurant!

📍Address: Ancient Observatory, 10 meters south of Exit C of Jianguomen Subway Station. 💰Average cost: CNY 20 per adult. Free admission for eligible visitors, including minors. ❤Recommended reasons: 1⃣Overlooking the core area of Beijing from the high point of the East Second Ring Road, with a panoramic view of the CBD area of Guomao. 2⃣A great place to learn about astronomy and geography. The scientific origins of the "morning star in the east and evening star in the west" in the Book of Songs are explained here. 3⃣Tour route: Although it looks small, it is not. ✅The exhibition is mainly in the courtyard on the right side of the entrance. ✅The Ancient Observatory was rebuilt after the founding of the People's Republic of China, restoring the original appearance of the Ming and Qing dynasties. ✅The small courtyard at the back, which is the location of the first photo, is often overlooked. It has some professional and lost astronomical instruments. 4⃣Bring a notebook, as there are two free stamps available. The cultural and creative store offers 12 zodiac stamps with any purchase. On weekends, you may even meet a friend while stamping. 📝Tips: Closed on Mondays. It is recommended to take public transportation. The place is not crowded, making it suitable for strolling, studying, daydreaming, and relaxing.

The Ancient Observatory near Beijing's Jianguomen is the imperial observatory of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and one of the oldest observatories in the world. The exhibition introduces the observatory, which was built in 1442 and continued astronomical observation for nearly 500 years until 1929. After the Purple Mountain Observatory was established, the Ancient Observatory was converted into an astronomical exhibition hall. The Ancient Observatory is laid out in a courtyard style, with several exhibition rooms introducing the ancient pursuit and study of astronomy, observing the stars, drawing star maps, compiling calendars, and more, witnessing the development of ancient Chinese astronomy. The courtyard displays replicas of astronomical instruments from different eras, as well as statues of famous ancient astronomers. The highlight is climbing nearly 100 stone steps to the observation platform. In the distance is the CBD of Beijing, with the tall China Zun, and in front of you are eight large Qing Dynasty observation instruments, including the equatorial armillary sphere, the ecliptic armillary sphere, the horizon circle, and the celestial globe, which have served Chinese astronomy for hundreds of years and still shine today. A group of young astronomy students are being guided by a teacher, while ordinary visitors are amazed by the ancient wisdom of the observation instruments that have survived for hundreds of years. The Ancient Observatory is also a museum with a lot of information, all in Chinese and English, and you can listen to the explanation by scanning the QR code. The space is open, comfortable, and generally interesting. The Ancient Observatory is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and is closed on Tuesdays (unlike other museums). Tickets are CNY 20, half price for university students, and free for seniors and minors. No reservation is required. It is within walking distance from Jianguomen or Beijing Railway Station.

🌟Ancient Observatory Guide🌟 1️⃣Opening Hours • The Ancient Observatory is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm) from Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed on Mondays. 2️⃣Ticket Information • Adult tickets are CNY 20 per person, and student tickets are CNY 10 per person. 3️⃣Transportation • 🚇Subway: Take Subway Line 1 to Jianguomen Station, and walk for 5 minutes. • 🚌Bus: Take a bus to Beijingzhan Dong Station, and walk to the observatory. 4️⃣Tour Route • 🏰Ancient Architecture: Visit the ancient architecture of the Ancient Observatory and feel the history. • 🔭Astronomical Instruments: Observe ancient astronomical instruments up close and learn about how they work. 5️⃣Nearby Food Recommendations • 🍜Beijing Snacks: You can try authentic Beijing snacks near the Ancient Observatory, such as zhajiang noodles, mung bean milk, and jiaoquan. 6️⃣Reminders • 📸Photography Rules: Photography may be prohibited in some areas. Please follow the rules. • 🧢Sun and Rain Protection: Bring sun or rain protection based on the weather. We hope this guide makes your trip to the Ancient Observatory even better! 🌟

🌟Highlights: The Ancient Observatory is located near Jianguomen in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was built in the 7th year of the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty (1442) and was the royal observatory of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is also one of the oldest observatories in the world. ❤Recommended Reason: The Ancient Observatory is a brick building with a narrow top and a wide bottom, and a square plane. The east side is connected to the city wall, and the top of the platform is about 3 meters higher than the city wall. There are horse paths on the west and north sides of the platform for people to climb. Eight large copper instruments are displayed on the south, west, and north sides of the platform. 👍Most Recommended: The Ancient Observatory has been continuously observing for nearly 500 years, accumulating a large amount of astronomical scientific data and making a great contribution to the astronomical cause of mankind. It still preserves the meteorological data of the Qing Dynasty for 180 years, which is one of the earliest and most complete meteorological observation records in the world.

#100TravelTips#TravelPlanGiveaway We are in Beijing and there is a place that we have pinned as a must-see, which is the Beijing Ancient Observatory, which is considered the oldest in the world. It is easy to get there by taking the subway, which is not far from our accommodation and takes less than 10 minutes. From Hujailou Station, get off at Jianguomen Station, Exit C and you will arrive. You have to buy a 20 yuan entrance ticket to enter the place and they will give you a brochure explaining the various stories in this place. The exterior looks like a castle, but when you go upstairs, you will see ancient tools and equipment that were built by the ancient Chinese hundreds of years ago. There will be signs explaining the purpose of each piece of equipment, what year it was built, and how to calculate astrology, see auspicious times, and so on. The area below is a garden for relaxing and has a museum of astronomical knowledge.

The Ancient Observatory, located at No. 2 Dongbiaobei Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, was established in the seventh year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1442), and served as the royal observatory during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is also one of the oldest existing observatories in the world, and was officially opened to the public in 1956 as the 'Beijing Ancient Astronomical Instruments Exhibition Hall'. The Ancient Observatory is a brick-built high platform structure, narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with a square plan. The base of the platform is made of rammed earth in the middle, with a bottom side length of 24.6 meters and a base height of 14.25 meters, covering a total area of about 10,000 square meters. The east side is connected to the city wall, and the top of the platform is about 3 meters above the city wall. There are horse paths on the west and north sides of the platform for people to ascend, and a round arched doorway in the center of the platform. Eight large bronze instruments are displayed on the south, west, and north sides of the platform. Below the platform to the west are the Zijin Hall and the Dripping Water Hall courtyard. The Ancient Observatory has been conducting continuous observations for nearly 500 years, accumulating a wealth of astronomical scientific data, and has made significant contributions to the astronomical endeavors of mankind. It still preserves meteorological data spanning 180 years from the Qing Dynasty, which is among the earliest and most complete meteorological observation records in the world. On August 21, 1979, the Ancient Observatory was announced by the Beijing Municipal People's Government as the second batch of municipal cultural relics protection units in Beijing. On February 23, 1982, the Ancient Observatory was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units.