Atlas of China
Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory 观星台Guānxīng Tái
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Zhengzhou, Henan
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Zhengzhou
- Region
- Henan
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory
A brick-and-stone observatory built in 1276 to designs by the Yuan astronomers Guo Shoujing and Wang Xun: a 9.46 m truncated tower with a 31 m stone 'sky-measuring scale' laid due north, on which the noon shadow of a gnomon was read to fix the length of the year. Nearby stand the Duke of Zhou's shadow-measuring platform, where a stone gnomon was set up in 723 under the Tang, and a Duke of Zhou temple, and the grounds also hold an exhibition hall on the Yangcheng ancient city site. The observatory is part of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng World Heritage site.
How to get to Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory
In Gaocheng town about 12 km south-east of Dengfeng, reached by the Dengfeng–Gaocheng bus or by road along the S237; the nearby Wangchenggang and Yangcheng city sites, also on the national heritage list, are mostly farmland with little to see.
Nearby
- Shaolin Temple 少林寺 20 km
The cradle of Chan Buddhism and kung fu, at the foot of Mount Song
Also within 20 km: Taishi Que Gates 太室阙 (under 10 km), Zhongyue Temple 中岳庙 (under 10 km), Qimu Que Gates 启母阙 (10 km), Dengfeng City God Temple 登封城隍庙 (10 km), Chongfu Palace 崇福宫 (10 km), Daxiong Mountain Xianren Valley 大熊山仙人谷 (10 km).
On the map
Open Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory on the map