The Astronomical Observatory on the Purple Mountain

　　紫金山天文台是我国最著名的天文台之一，位于南京市东郊风景优美的紫金山上。

　　紫金山天文台刚建成的时候，它只是一个拥有少数观测仪器的小天文台。经过后来的不断发展，天文台不论从设备还是科研方面，都是驰名中外的天文研究机构，拥有太阳、行星、恒星、射电、人造卫星等多方面的观测设备和实验设备。

　　位于紫金山天文台内的天堡城遗址，是太平天国时修筑的重要的军事要塞，筑于绝壁之上，登临此堡，可西眺滚滚长江，俯视南京。

　　As one of the most renowned astronomical observatories in China, it is situated on picturesque Purple Mountain in the southeastern suburbs of Nanjing. When completed, it was only a small astronomical observa－tory with a few instruments for observation. Thanks to its constant development in the following periods, it has become a world-famous astronomical research institute either in terms of its equipment or scientific research. It is equipped with apparatuses for observing and making experiment with the sun, planets, fixed stars, radio and artificial satellites.

　　Within the astronomical observatory, the remaining site of Tianbao castle on the precipice of the Purple Mountain was an important military stronghold built under the reign of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Ascending this castle, one can look far westward into the rolling Yangtze River and overlook Nanjing .曹建新 译