Armillary sphere
A sphere which has movable rings that can be positioned to where ever the stars are in the night. there is a permanent ring which represents the equator. The Chinese used the Armillary sphere to aid their observation of the stars. The early Chinese astronomers Shi Shen and Gan De used a primitive single ring Armillary instrument. This allowed them to measure north polar distance.
Orrery
Chinese astronomers used an Orrery to position and predict the motion and phases of the planets and other satellites in the solar system.
Chinese compass
The Chinese developed the compass in the 11th century AD. Before the compass, people had to rely on landmarks and constellations to navigate themselves. The Chinese compass pointed to the south rather than the modern compass which points to the north. The compass was credited with winning a military battle when the battle field was engulfed by thick fog. The advancing army was able to navigate despite unable to see surrounding landmarks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEwgjHq1CM0