Former Site of Qingxin Girls' Middle School

Former Site of Qingxin Girls' Middle School

The former site of Qingxin Girls' Middle School is a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Former Site of Qingxin Girls' Middle School

Qingxin Girls' Middle School, initially called Qingxin Girls' School, originated from the "Qingxin Academy" established in Shanghai in 1861 by American Presbyterian missionary Rev. John Van Nest Talmage and his wife. It was officially named "Qingxin Girls' Middle School" in 1918. In June 1953, after the government took over the school, it was renamed "Shanghai No. 8 Girls' Middle School." From 1969 onward, the school began admitting male students and was subsequently renamed "Shanghai No. 8 Middle School." In 1978, it was designated as a district key middle school by the district government.

The historic building at No. 650 Lujiabang Road, currently housing Shanghai No. 8 Middle School, is among the third batch of Shanghai Excellent Historical Buildings. On April 4, 2014, it was announced as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit.

In 1930 (the 19th year of the Republic of China), with generous donations from American friends, the Gengwu Building (now the North Building) was completed. It was described as “magnificent and splendid, the grandest structure in the entire school.” The building features an ancient Greek architectural style: — the central front section has tall, slender Corinthian-style columns that extend through the second and third floors, reflecting a feminine elegance; — the central pediment at the top mimics the design of the ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon, giving it a solemn and majestic feel. (Currently a protected municipal cultural relics conservation building.)

In 1921, the Tongmen Hall (now the southern part of the East Building) was completed, and the middle school department moved in. The land was purchased by the Presbyterian Church, and the construction costs were covered by alumni donations and funding from American friends. It was considered a “spacious school building.” When construction of Tongmen Hall (southern part of the East Building) began, there were 179 students and 50 preschoolers.

On April 4, 2014, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government officially designated and announced the former site of Qingxin Girls' Middle School as a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit (Shanghai Government Document No. [2014] 29).