After
seeing the Huge Stone Carving, turn eastward, you will see a
north-eastern gallery behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
It is located in the east of the Inner Court outside the Gate of Respect Movement (Jing
Yun Men). This exhibition hall houses about 200 clocks and watches from the imperial
collection. Those watches and clocks are mostly made in Switzerland, England, France, the
U.S and Japan, with some Chinese made timepieces on display as well.
There are two
clocks which deserve the greatest attention. You can easily see them when you enter the
Hall. The one on the left is a Chime Clock, it was made during the Qing Dynasty, around
1797, by the royal clockmakers. This clock can still run up to 72 hours after it is well
wound and it can also strike hours and quarters. This clock is 5.85 meters high and it
stands on a 2.6 meters high square base.
Symmetrically
stands on the right hand side is a huge water clock made in 1799. The clock is 6 meters
high and it is the largest one in China. The clock is made up of four bronze pots, these
bronze pots, identical in size, are placed vertically. The water in the upper pot drops
into the second one through a hole, and in turn, it drops to the third and finally into
the bottom. There is a float in the bottom pot with markers for the time which the water
level indicates.
Visitors may also
find this hall a nice place for a rest. While sitting on the benches provided, you can
also feast your eyes on the collection of clocks and watches displayed in the Hall as seen
on the close-circuit TV sets. |