China attractions - Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) is a branch institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). SHAO was officially established in 1962 adapt the confluence of the former Xujiahui (originally spelt Zi-Ka-Wei) and Sheshan (Zỏ-Sẻ) observatories, which were both built by the French Mission Catholique in 1872 and 1900 respectively. Both came under administration of Chinese Government in 1950.
A 40cm double astrograph, which was the largest telescope in East Asia at that time, was built in 1900 on top of Sheshan Mountain. It is one of a few telescopes in the world that observed Halley's Comet both in 1910 and 1986.
From 1951 to 1981 SHAO offered the clock-time standard for all China. A new observatory was then established in Shanxi under the auspices of SHAO, which has provided this service since 1981.
In the 1980s, SHAO built a 25m radio telescope for use as station in the Very Long Baseline Interferometery (VLBI) network; a 1.56m optical telescope; and a 60cm satellite laser-ranging system. These three facilities are still in commonly use today.
In 1999, SHAO was removed to a new 19-storey building in the Xujiahui district. Currently, it is one of the most authoritative astronomical observatories.
