Located in Xicheng District, Beijing, Beijing Planetarium is a national-level natural science museum, a first-class national museum, and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It covers an area of 20,000 square meters with a building area of 26,000 square meters, divided into Hall A (Old Hall) and Hall B (New Hall). Hall A was completed and opened in 1957, being the first large-scale planetarium in China and also the first large-scale planetarium in the Asian continent at that time; Hall B was completed and opened at the end of 2004.
History and Culture
In 1923, the German Zeiss factory manufactured the world's first planetarium, and then the world's first fake sky planetarium was built in Germany. In 1932, Gao Lu, the founder of the Chinese Astronomical Society, published a lecture manuscript introducing the planetarium and the planetarium in the journal Universe, promoting the development of China's planetarium cause.
In September 1954, the Central Cultural Commission decided to prepare for the construction of Beijing Planetarium, which was handled by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. On October 24, 1955, Beijing Planetarium started construction near the Beijing Western Suburb Zoo. On September 29, 1957, Beijing Planetarium was completed and opened.
In 1991, the renovation of Beijing Planetarium was put on the agenda. On September 8, 2000, it was decided that the Beijing Municipal Government would invest 200 million yuan to build a new hall, retaining the old hall. In December 2004, the new hall (Hall B) of Beijing Planetarium was officially completed and opened. In July 2008, the old hall (Hall A) of Beijing Planetarium was reopened after renovation.
The Beijing Ancient Observatory, a subordinate unit of Beijing Planetarium, was first built in the seventh year of Ming Zhengtong (1442 AD) and was the royal observatory of the Ming and Qing dynasties. After the 1911 Revolution, it was reorganized into the Central Observatory, and in 1929, it was renamed the National Astronomical Exhibition Hall. In December 1955, the observatory was assigned to Beijing Planetarium, and in April 1983, it was renamed "Beijing Ancient Observatory" and reopened to the public.
Main Attractions
Hall A Planetarium
Located in the center of Hall A, the inner diameter of the dome is 23 meters, capable of accommodating 400 spectators. The hall has the treasure of the museum, the "Zeiss Model 9 Optical Planetarium," and a high-resolution full-sky digital projection system, which can realistically restore more than 9,000 stars visible to the naked eye on Earth.
Universe Tour Exhibition
Located on the first floor above ground of Hall B, it has eleven theme exhibition halls such as the Solar Family, Moon Walk, and Meteorite Tribe, leading visitors to gradually deepen their understanding of cosmic space starting from ground-based stargazing.
Universe Shuttle Exhibition
Located on the first floor underground of Hall B, with the theme of "Universe Shuttle," it is divided into seven theme exhibition halls such as cosmic evolution, cosmic scale, and exoplanets, presenting each stage of cosmic evolution through visually impactful shapes.
Universe Landscape Exhibition
Located on the second floor above ground of Hall B, it mainly displays deep-space celestial bodies such as galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae with large exquisite pictures, such as the "Horsehead" Nebula, "Whirlpool Galaxy M104," and "Pleiades M45."
Beijing Ancient Observatory
It was the royal observatory of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is a key national cultural relic protection unit. The eight ancient astronomical instruments exhibited on the top of the platform are national first-class cultural relics. It has three exhibition halls: Ziwei Hall and the east and west wing rooms, displaying three theme exhibitions of "Chinese Starry Sky," "The Eastward Spread of Western Learning," and "Astronomical Instruments on the Platform" respectively.
Food
In-hall Catering
Hall B has a restaurant on the first floor underground and a Starry Sky Coffee Bar on the second floor above ground, providing spectators with simple meals, coffee, beverages, etc.
Surrounding Food
Beijing Planetarium is adjacent to the Zoo, and there are various restaurants and snack shops around. You can taste Beijing characteristic foods such as Beijing Roast Duck, Zha Jiang Mian (Noodles with Soy Bean Paste), and Douzhi (Fermented Soybean Milk) with Jiaoquan (Fried Dough Rings), as well as various fast foods and home-cooked dishes for choice.
Tickets
Tickets start from 10 yuan.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "北京天文馆" in WeChat to obtain the latest updates or purchase tickets online. There are many types of tickets, please purchase according to your needs.
Opening Hours
It is open on Monday, Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:30, and entry stops at 16:00. It is closed on Tuesday as a routine (except for national legal holidays). The opening hours of Beijing Ancient Observatory are the same as those of the planetarium.
Tour Routes
Two-hour Tour (Check-in Route): East Gate Entrance ➜ Ticket Office ➜ 1st Floor of Hall B (Solar Exhibition Hall, Lunar Meteorite Exhibition Hall) ➜ B1 Floor of Hall B (Universe Shuttle Exhibition Hall) ➜ Hall A Planetarium ➜ West Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ East Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ Universe Supermarket (Souvenir Shop) ➜ North Gate Exit.
Half-day Tour (Enjoyment Route): East Gate Entrance ➜ Ticket Office ➜ Astronomical Square (Celestial Globe) ➜ 1st Floor of Hall B (Solar Exhibition Hall, Lunar Meteorite Exhibition Hall) ➜ 2nd Floor of Hall B (Universe Theater or 4D Theater) ➜ B1 Floor of Hall B (Universe Shuttle Exhibition Hall) ➜ Hall A Planetarium ➜ West Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ East Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ Universe Supermarket (Souvenir Shop) ➜ North Gate Exit.
One-day Tour (Exploration Route): East Gate Entrance ➜ Ticket Office ➜ Astronomical Square (Celestial Globe) ➜ 1st Floor of Hall B (Solar Exhibition Hall, Lunar Meteorite Exhibition Hall, Universe Tour Exhibition) ➜ 2nd Floor of Hall B (Universe Theater, 4D Theater, Starry Sky Coffee Bar) ➜ B1 Floor of Hall B (Universe Shuttle Exhibition Hall, 3D Theater) ➜ Corridor between Halls A and B (Nandan Meteorite) ➜ Astronomical Garden (Sundial) ➜ Hall A (Foucault Pendulum) ➜ Hall A Planetarium ➜ West Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ East Exhibition Hall of Hall A ➜ Universe Supermarket (Souvenir Shop) ➜ North Gate Exit.
Transportation
- Bus: You can take buses No. 7, 15, 19, 27, 102, 105, 107, 111, 332, 347; Special 4, 604, 305, 686 and other public buses to get off at the Zoo Station.
- Subway: Take Subway Line 4 and exit from Exit D of Zoo Station.
- Self-driving: You can reach it by going west from Xizhimen Bridge on the West 2nd Ring Road, east from Zizhuyuan Bridge on the West 3rd Ring Road, south from Baiyi Road, north from Sanlihe Road, etc. It should be noted that since February 1, 2019, except for fire protection, first aid and other emergency rescue vehicles, all other external vehicles are prohibited from entering Beijing Planetarium.
Must-visit Attractions
- Hall A Planetarium: It has advanced optical planetarium and projection systems, bringing a shocking starry sky experience.
- Universe Tour Exhibition: Rich in content and strong in interactivity, suitable for parent-child visits, allowing visitors to deeply understand cosmic knowledge.
- Beijing Ancient Observatory: With a long history, the ancient astronomical instruments are of great value, enabling people to feel the charm of ancient astronomy.
Tour Suggestions
- Check the exhibition and performance information on the official website or WeChat public account in advance and arrange the time reasonably.
- When watching the planetarium in Hall A and theater performances, observe the order and turn off your mobile phone or set it to silent mode.
- Parents with children can participate in more interactive experience projects to increase children's interest in learning.
- When choosing the one-day tour route, you can bring some snacks and water by yourself, or dine and rest in the in-hall restaurant and coffee bar.
Notes
- Abide by the regulations of the hall and do not touch the exhibits and instruments.
- Keep quiet during the visit and do not make loud noises to avoid affecting other spectators.
- In case of special exhibitions or activities, the opening hours and tour routes may be temporarily adjusted. Please pay attention to the notices in the hall.
- The light in the planetarium is dim. Please pay attention to safety when walking and take care of the elderly and children.