Remains of the Imperial University of Peking Building

Remains of the Imperial University of Peking Building

The remains of the Imperial University of Peking Building are a protected cultural heritage site in Beijing.

The remains of the Imperial University of Peking Building are located

at No. 55 and No. 59 Haitanhou Street, and are among the fourth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage conservation units in Beijing.

The Imperial University of Peking was founded in the 24th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1898), and its original site was an unused palace of Princess Hecao, the fourth daughter of Emperor Qianlong. At that time, under the impetus of the reformists, Emperor Guangxu accepted the reform proposals of Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, implemented the New Policies, and the establishment of the Imperial University of Peking was one of these initiatives. After the founding of the Republic of China, the Imperial University of Peking was renamed Peking University. The existing buildings include the main hall and princess courtyard from the original Princess Hecao palace, which are traditional Qing-style structures, as well as the Mathematics Department building and fourteen rows of traditional Chinese-style single-story houses known as "Xizhai," which were built during the Republican era. It is the first national highest institution of learning established in modern China. Before the May Fourth Movement, the Communist Study Group was founded here, making it an early site for the introduction and promotion of Marxist and Leninist works.

Source: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Conservation Units in Beijing