The Royal Asiatic Society Beijing is pleased to announce a journey back in time with a visit to the Beijing Ancient Observatory and Ming City Wall Ruins Park. We will gather at the entrance of the Beijing Ancient Observatory for a private tour of the observatory site, with commentary by a local expert on the history and the various astronomical devices. (Translation into English provided).

Built in 1442 during the Ming Dynasty, this observatory is one of the oldest in the world . As the Emperor was considered the “Son of Heaven”, astronomy and the movement of the planets and stars were extremely important to Chinese cosmology. Later it was updated with the help of European Jesuits including Ferdinand Verbiest and Adam Schall von Bell.

After the Observatory talk, we’ll have lunch and then journey south to the Ming City Wall Ruins for a tour of the corner tower and walk along the base of the walls with commentary and historical anecdotes provided by Jim Nobles. Our tour concludes at Chongwenmen subway station.

WHEN: April 14, 2019 from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM approx.

WHERE: Meet at the entrance to Beijing Ancient Observatory (south of Jianguomen subway Exit C)

PRICE: RMB 150 for RASBJ members, RMB 200 for non-members (includes entrance tickets, guides, translation, audiophones and lunch)

RSVP: email communications.ras.bj@gmail.com and write “Observatory” in the subject header, providing participant’s names and cellphone numbers

NOTE: please RSVP no later than April 10. Group size is limited to 25; your place is confirmed when you pay in advance.

HOW TO PAY:  please befriend RASBJ treasurer John Olbrich on wechat at johnobeijing, mention “RASBJ Observatory” and when you pay please list names of attendees being paid for. If payment is received after all slots are filled, it’ll be refunded. Otherwise payment is non-refundable