Place to visit
Purple Mountain Observatory, China: what it is and when to go
Purple Mountain Observatory is an observatory (中国科学院紫金山天文台) in China (Nanjing). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is November to March. In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Observatory · Stargazing
- Local name
- 中国科学院紫金山天文台
- Where
- China
- You can go
- November to March.
- Nearest airport
- PVG Shanghai (Pudong), 301 km as the crow flies
- Coordinates
- 32.06688, 118.82604
What it is and where
Purple Mountain Observatory is an observatory (中国科学院紫金山天文台) in China (Nanjing).
It is in Nanjing, where this site lists 17 more places to see, 4.8 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 32.06688, 118.82604; the nearest main airport is Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG, Shanghai (Pudong)), 301 km as the crow flies. How to get around China (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
It is one of the Stargazing places in China. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
Months when you can visit Purple Mountain Observatory: November to March.
- JanPossible10:07
- FebPossible10:52
- MarPossible11:46
- AprBetter not12:48
- MayBetter not13:38
- JunBetter not14:05
- JulBetter not13:54
- AugBetter not13:11
- SepBetter not12:11
- OctBetter not11:11
- NovPossible10:20
- DecPossible9:55
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
When to go to China in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to China
To enter China there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the China checklist. Currency: Yuan or renminbi (CNY); plugs: Type A, C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire brigade.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- Zhongshan Mountain National ParkProtected area608 m
- Nanjing Seabed WorldWith kids · Wildlife1.8 km
- Nanjing MuseumHistory museum, art museum in Nanjing, China2.7 km
- Sun Zhongshan ji nian guanBuilding in the People's Republic of China2.8 km
- Jiming TempleBuilding in Jiming Temple, China3.4 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the China guide.
More in China: Stargazing
- LAMOST: Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope
- Tate's Cairn: mountain in Hong Kong
- Shanghai Astronomy Museum: building in Shanghai, China
- Sheshan Observatory: Observatory
- Yunnan Astronomical Observatory: observatory in China
- Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory: cosmic ray observatory in Daocheng, Garze, Sichuan, China
Every China place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Purple Mountain Observatory?
It is an observatory (中国科学院紫金山天文台 in the local language) in China.
When is the best time to visit Purple Mountain Observatory?
November to March. In June there are 14 h 05 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 55.
How do you get to Purple Mountain Observatory?
The nearest main airport is Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), 301 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around China is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the China map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Zhongshan Mountain National Park, Nanjing Seabed World, Nanjing Museum. The rest is in the China guide.
Keep reading
- Nanjing17 places to see in and around Nanjing, China: Nanjing Museum, Presidential Palace, Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Best time: March to May and September to October.
- Stargazing42 places for stargazing in China, from LAMOST to spots hardly anyone knows. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- ChinaBefore travelling to China: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. Right now no visa is needed: China maintains a unilateral exemption for Spanish citizens…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.