THUA THIEN - HUE – A report on the excavation of Quan Tuong in Hue has identified it as the country's only ancient observatory intact enough to be preserved as a monument.

At a seminar held in Hue on Thursday, experts from the Hue Centre for Monuments Conservation said at the 250sq.m excavation site they had identified over 80 per cent of the foundation of the Bat Phong Temple, Quan Tuong's main structure.

They had also found an old waterway dredging system and a stairway leading to the upper portions of the 200-year-old observatory.

They have measured the height of the observatory and the size of the Bat Phong Temple and documented details about the materials and colours used in the building.

Located on Nam Minh Fort in the southwestern part of the Hue Royal Citadel and overlooking the Huong River and Bach Ho Bridge, the observatory was built in 1827 by Emperor Minh Mang (1820-40) for astronomical and meteorological observation.

Its operation was synchronous with the Kham Thien Giam agency which specialised in meteorology and making calendars during the Nguyen Dynasty era (1802-1945).-VNS