Beijing Planetarium and Old Observatory - the national museum of natural sciences. Their goal - to popularize the knowledge of astronomy among the various segments of the population, so the building Planetarium held permanent exhibitions, lectures.

The building itself was built in 1957. The planetarium is a theater in Heaven, West and East Exhibition Hall. In 2001 and 2004, it was built and equipped with the new territory of the planetarium, and by 2008 it was equipped with various appliances. For visitors are available projection dome, star theater with 3D- and 4D-imaging.

The diameter of the dome is 23 meters, and in the screening room can accommodate 600 people at a time. Basic premises of the planetarium - is itself a planetarium, an observatory and an exhibition hall, which set new media stations, as well as a planetarium Karl Seitz. The new building includes an exhibition hall, comic theater, 3D- and 4D-theater, exhibition galleries.

3D-theater complex consists of 6 Turbo Ride and can accommodate a 48 people. All chairs can simulate flying in space as well as sensation of free fall. The 4D-theater 3D-installed system and special chairs, which create different effects: photovoltaic, water spray, blowing air. Also in the room has a large screen 180 degrees. Hall is able to accommodate about 200 people.

The observatory, which is located in the "heart" of Beijing - the oldest in the world. It was created in 1442 in the Ming Dynasty. Today the Observatory and Planetarium, created on its base - one of the most famous sites of the city. Observatory occupied an area of ​​10,000 square meters. meters, and the area itself is on a kind of platform of stone, about 15 meters high and the width of 40x40 meters. This stone tower - the remaining part of the fortress wall that surrounded the city during the Ming Dynasty.

In the courtyard of the observatory still stand some astronomical instruments: armillary sphere, created during the reign of the Ming Dynasty; Gnomon - sundial.

Today the Observatory is a museum, which operates under the direction of Beijing Planetarium. The observatory is available to visit since 1983.