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The Clock and Watch Museum was originally the Fengxian Hall, located on the east side of the three palaces in the inner court of the Forbidden City. It was the ancestral temple where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped their ancestors.
Today, it has been transformed into a clock and watch exhibition hall, displaying more than 200 clocks and watches made in China and abroad in the 18th century.
The museum exhibits copper kettle clepsydra, hardwood carved tower-style self-ringing clock, copper-plated gilded writing clock, etc. In addition, there are also exhibition halls such as the Qing Palace Workshop, Suzhou Charm, and French Collection, which display various fine clocks and watches.
Attraction Location: The Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall is located inside the Forbidden City (故宫博物院), near the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), Beijing, China (北京市东城区景山前街4号)
Opening Hours: 8:30 – 17:00 (Last entry 16:10), closed on Mondays except public holidays
《Clock and Watch Museum》 《Treasure Museum》
Tickets for the two museums are 10 yuan each, and you can order them together on the official website of the Forbidden City. If you go early (we went in at about 8 o'clock), you don't have to queue. In comparison, the Clock and Watch Museum is more interesting. They are all large and luxurious clocks. The emperor's toys are too advanced! Today, they all look very exquisite foreign goods. By the way, the Clock and Watch Museum also has scheduled free explanations and clock demonstrations, but it's a pity that they were cancelled during the National Day. The Treasure House is a luxurious gold, silver and jewelry. I went too late (around 10 o'clock) and there were a lot of people, so I just went out.
In the Fengxian Hall outside the Jingyun Gate of the Forbidden City, a total of 123 clocks and watches made in China and abroad in the 18th century are exhibited. The clock and watch museum requires a separate ticket of 10 yuan. I originally didn't plan to come in, but after hearing good feedback from others, I decided to take a look.
It's not as good as the Treasure House, but it's OK. Don't miss it if you pass by.
When you go to the clock museum, it is best to follow the volunteer guide to learn about the characteristics of different clocks and the stories behind them. It is difficult to understand them by yourself. We were lucky enough to catch the clock display time. Although it was only two or three minutes, the effect of the whole clock working was really exquisite and gorgeous.
After watching "I Repair Cultural Relics in the Forbidden City", it felt very familiar to visit the Clock Museum.
Looking at the various rotating clocks and listening to the ticking sound of the springs, I couldn't help but feel awe at the watchmaking craftsmanship of the time!
In the exhibition hall, I admired the clocks that appeared in "I Repair Cultural Relics in the Forbidden City"
The Clock Museum houses a variety of extravagant clocks, most of which are made in Britain and France! The decoration is really... very consistent with the national setting of Britain at that time! Looking at these clocks, imagining the scenes of the ancient queen mothers, emperors, and concubines enjoying these Western gadgets, it is really quite vivid.
The clocks and watches displayed in the clock and watch museum are all used by the royal family. They are gorgeously decorated and exquisitely made. Clocks and watches from different countries such as Switzerland and France are all in the museum's collection. I think of how glorious and glorious it was back then. People's wisdom was already so great at that time. It's a pity. I admire their exquisite craftsmanship and pity their unique skills. If they were alive today, they would definitely be top designers.
Fortunately, I didn't miss the clock exhibition hall at 11 o'clock. When the staff wound up the clocks, they suddenly came alive and followed the music.
As it turns, I feel like I've traveled through thousands of years. I'm moved, really moved.
The museum displays all kinds of clocks and watches collected by the Qing Palace. Qianlong loved to collect clocks and watches. The various clocks and watches made in the Qing Palace, local and foreign countries are really exquisite and worth the 10 yuan ticket. After reading the introduction, I can't help but sigh that the wisdom of the ancients is too superb.
Chinese clocks and watches are mostly decorated with gold, pearls, jade and gemstones, and are extremely valuable. Western clocks and watches are superior in terms of precision, ingenuity and fun. The Clock Museum has two timekeeping performances at 11:00 and 14:00 every day, which are worth watching if you have time.
The clocks inside are so chic that a rough person like me can only sigh: a clock can be so exaggerated.
In fact, it is really amazing. When you go to the Forbidden City, you must visit the Clock Museum and the Treasure House. The two museums are very close, one in front and one behind.
After passing the Hall of Supreme Harmony, turn right and you will reach the Clock and Watch Museum and Treasure House.
The Clock and Watch Museum is located on the right side of the center line of the Forbidden City. It mainly collects clocks made in Guangzhou, Suzhou and the palace during the reigns of Emperor Qianlong and Emperor Jiaqing. Some are produced in Britain, France, Switzerland and other countries. It is said that there are many British clocks and watches, and even the British Museum does not have the same models and specifications.
There are so many clocks in the clock museum, and they are very old. It is dazzling to see. There is Qianlong's favorite clock, called the Westerner Writing Clock, which seems to be the kind that can write, with a clock on the top and a person on the bottom. There are some clock demonstrations at 11 am and 2 pm, don't miss it. You need to buy a ticket to visit the clock museum.
There is a video in the clock museum that introduces the characteristics and history of these clocks. If you have time, you should watch it and you can see many clock demonstrations.