Former Site of Jilin University Teaching Buildings

Former Site of Jilin University Teaching Buildings

The former site of Jilin University teaching buildings is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former site of Jilin University teaching buildings was originally known as the Stone Buildings of Northeast Electric Power College. It is located at No. 169 Changchun Road, Chuanying District, Jilin City, behind the main teaching building of the old campus of Northeast Electric Power University. Geographic coordinates: 43°49′16.0", 126°29′51.8", elevation 202 meters. In 2013, it was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

On November 24, 2018, the former site of Jilin University teaching buildings was included in the “Third Batch of China’s 20th Century Architectural Heritage Projects.”

The former site of Jilin University teaching buildings was initially constructed in 1929 and completed in 1931. It served as the main teaching facility during the founding period of Jilin University. The complex consists of three buildings: the main building, the east building, and the west building, all built from rectangular granite blocks, hence also referred to as the “Stone Buildings.” The architect was the renowned Chinese master of architectural design, Liang Sicheng.

The main building has two floors (excluding the basement), covering an area of 3,383 square meters, with a slightly T-shaped floor plan. The roof ridge features chiwen (decorative dragon heads), and there are two-tiered stone steps in front of the main entrance. The east and west buildings share the same design as the main building, both with a construction area of 3,018 square meters. Their middle sections are four stories high, while the ends are three stories, topped with gable roofs. The three stone buildings were designed to symbolize an airplane, a warship, and a fortress, representing the army, navy, and air force, respectively. They uniquely combine traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles, which was unprecedented in China at that time.

The east building has doors on both the eastern and western sides on the first floor, as well as one door each on the northern and southern exterior sides, symbolizing access to the front and rear decks of a warship. A 36-meter-high chimney stands at the northeast corner of the building, symbolizing the smokestack of a ship. Except for smaller windows at the ends of the corridors on the second and third floors (i.e., above the north and south doors on the first floor) for lighting, the rest of the north and south gables are entirely enclosed with no additional windows.

The west building has doors only on the eastern and western sides, with none on the northern and southern sides. Large uniform windows for lighting are installed on the north and south gables, and clear windows of the same size are also set at the north and south ends of the corridors on the first, second, and third floors, symbolizing a fortress. The central main building features a projecting entrance hall, symbolizing the nose of an airplane; the office spaces on either side represent the wings; and the central auditorium and library extend vertically backward, mimicking the fuselage. For the tail section of the airplane, Liang Sicheng only sketched the outline on the blueprint and noted that it would be reserved for future expansion as a library storage extension. In 1989, on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Northeast Electric Power College, the tail section of the building was finally completed according to Liang's design.

The main building now serves as administrative offices for Northeast Electric Power University, while the east and west buildings function as classrooms and laboratories. During the Cultural Revolution, the buildings suffered some damage, but in recent years, Northeast Electric Power University has organized renovations. The structures are stable, well-preserved, and largely maintain their original appearance.

The former site of Jilin University teaching buildings is grand in form and extraordinary in structure. Designed by the famed Chinese architect Liang Sicheng, it is one of the outstanding works of modern architecture in Northeast China. The entire structure is built from granite, adding a sense of solemnity and dignity. Stone-carved bracket sets and patterns adorn the rooftop and parapet areas, while the upper parts of the gate pillars feature traditional Chinese stone chiwen ornaments, giving the entire complex a bright yet mysteriously impressive impression. The entrance hall of the main building is majestically designed in an antique style, with circular column capitals surrounded by cloud motifs that provide space for festive flower arrangements. At the time, the area around the western suburbs of Jilin City was sparsely built-up. With these three stone buildings standing tall and proud, along with the meandering Songhua River and the distant Beishan Mountain, they formed a magnificently imposing campus landscape.

The former site of Jilin University teaching buildings was the location of the first modern higher education institution in Jilin Province established during the Republic of China era—the Jilin University, initiated by Zhang Zuoxiang, then governor of Jilin Province. This site serves as a historical testament to the establishment of modern education in Jilin, recording the development of modern schooling in the region. It holds significant evidentiary value and typical importance for the study of Jilin’s modern educational history and Chinese architectural history.

In May 2013, the State Council (State Council Document [2013] No. 13) announced the former site of Jilin University teaching buildings as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units