A large-scale astronomic instrument designed and made by scientists of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), such as Su Song and Han Gonglian, the water-driven astronomical clock tower is a combination of the armillary sphere, the celestial globe, and the timing device, representing a transcendent creation by ancient Chinese people.

Twelve meters high and seven meters wide, the clock tower is made of wood in the shape of a square table and is composed of three parts. On top is an open-roof wooden house with an armillary sphere for celestial observation placed inside. In the middle is a room with a celestial globe inside. The most interesting part is the timing device in the bottom of the tower, where five little wooden figures are place in five cabinets, giving the correct time in turns.

Using waterpower and having all the functions of the armillary sphere, the tower was the first astronomical clock in the world.

Editor: Maggie