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Observatory, relics are tourist magnets
May 17, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SONGJIANG'S Guangfulin Relics Park and Sheshan Observatory were recently added to the national list of protected historic and cultural relics sites.
Guangfulin Park honors the ancestors of modern Shanghai, who lived in the area about 4,000 years ago.
In 1958, local farmers dredging a waterway found some ancient pottery shards. In 1961, archaeologists began the first systematic excavation work at the site and discovered a large volume of pottery vases, spinning wheels, cooking vessels and dishes.
The park, located on Guangfulin Road, is comprised of two underground layers.
The first covers an area of about 10,000 square meters; the second, about 7,000 square meters.
The greater park area has two tombs. One tomb contained the complete skeleton of a pig, while the other was discovered to hold a dog's skeleton.
Archeologists also unearthed sharpened stone weapons and tools used as axes, knives, chisels and shovels.
The excavation work stretched from 1961 to 2008. In 2008, experts found a large number of bronze shards, wooden craft items and turtle shells, which in ancient China were used to foretell the future.
The observatory on the top of West Sheshan Hill is one of the oldest astronomy observatories in China.
It was built in 1899 in the 25th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign under the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The observatory contains one of China's oldest telescopes. In 1898, a priest named Cai Shangzhi raised funds to order the telescope from France. The refracting telescope has a diameter of 40 centimeters and a focal length of 7 meters. In 1901, the Sheshan Observatory was opened and Cai became the first president.
Guangfulin Park honors the ancestors of modern Shanghai, who lived in the area about 4,000 years ago.
In 1958, local farmers dredging a waterway found some ancient pottery shards. In 1961, archaeologists began the first systematic excavation work at the site and discovered a large volume of pottery vases, spinning wheels, cooking vessels and dishes.
The park, located on Guangfulin Road, is comprised of two underground layers.
The first covers an area of about 10,000 square meters; the second, about 7,000 square meters.
The greater park area has two tombs. One tomb contained the complete skeleton of a pig, while the other was discovered to hold a dog's skeleton.
Archeologists also unearthed sharpened stone weapons and tools used as axes, knives, chisels and shovels.
The excavation work stretched from 1961 to 2008. In 2008, experts found a large number of bronze shards, wooden craft items and turtle shells, which in ancient China were used to foretell the future.
The observatory on the top of West Sheshan Hill is one of the oldest astronomy observatories in China.
It was built in 1899 in the 25th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign under the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The observatory contains one of China's oldest telescopes. In 1898, a priest named Cai Shangzhi raised funds to order the telescope from France. The refracting telescope has a diameter of 40 centimeters and a focal length of 7 meters. In 1901, the Sheshan Observatory was opened and Cai became the first president.
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