Former Site of Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America

Former Site of Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America

The Former Site of Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Former Site of Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America, a sixth-batch Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, is categorized under important modern historical sites and representative architecture, with the designation number 984/Ⅴ-111, officially proclaimed by the State Council on May 25, 2006. Time period: Republic of China era. Location: Kaifeng City, Henan Province.

In 1912, the Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America was established on the site of the former Henan Provincial Examination Hall from the Qing Dynasty. At that time, it served as an important base for the country to send students abroad and train advanced professionals. Only the reconstructed main gate remains at the original site today. In 1923, it was restructured into “Zhongzhou University,” renamed “Henan University” in 1930, underwent several name changes after 1949, and was restored to Henan University in 1984, which remains its current name.

In 1925, Xiao Chunu conducted revolutionary activities here while stationed at the Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America. In 1936, it was converted into Kaifeng Senior High School. The Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America was founded in 1912 on the site of the Henan Provincial Examination Hall built in the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1731), when there were only three such institutions nationwide—the other two being the Tsinghua College Preparatory School for Studying in America (now Tsinghua University) and Shanghai Nanyang Public School (the predecessor of Xi’an Jiaotong University and Shanghai Jiaotong University). Since 1915, the academy successively constructed buildings including Building No. 6, Building No. 7, East and West Dormitories, the South Gate, and the Grand Auditorium, forming a group of outstanding modern buildings that blend distinctly traditional Chinese architectural features with partial Western design techniques. It stands as one of the most exquisitely structured, grandly built, and seamlessly integrated Sino-Western architectural complexes among higher education institutions in China. Its architectural style ingeniously merges official Chinese construction methods with local Henan building techniques, while also adopting Western column styles and window forms. It not only reflects distinct characteristics of the era but also inherits the fine traditions of Chinese architectural culture, making it one of the finest examples of national architecture in China’s early 20th century.

The Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America was built between 1915 and 1936. Its main structures form a north-south central axis extending from the school gate to the Grand Auditorium. To the east of the central axis lie “Building No. 6” along the inner side, and ten neatly arranged dormitories (commonly referred to as the East Ten Dorms) along the outer side. To the west of the axis are “Building No. 7” along the inner side, and two dormitories (commonly known as the West Two Dorms) along the outer side.

The Former Site of the Henan Academy for Studying Abroad in Europe and America largely retains the traditional sloped roofs of ethnic architecture, with traditional wood carvings under the eaves, while also integrating Western architectural techniques. It is both aesthetically pleasing and practical, dignified and elegant, representing a masterpiece of large-scale ethnic architectural design and engineering from the early 20th century, and a type of public architecture in modern China notable for its grouped layout.

Among the provincial capitals in China today, there are several cases that can be considered rather peculiar—for example, Hefei replacing Anqing, Shijiazhuang replacing Baoding, and Zhengzhou replacing Kaifeng. Regardless of how it happened, once a city is replaced, the former capital tends to decline. I haven’t been to Anqing, but I’ve visited Kaifeng and Baoding many times, especially Kaifeng. Whether a place is a provincial capital or not can hinge on a single thought. One moment of change can lead to vastly different outcomes.

Tiemenzhen Town: Tiemenzhen Town in Xin’an County is located 40 kilometers west of Luoyang City, covering a total area of 116.5 square kilometers, governing 31 administrative villages and 383 natural villages, with a total population of 72,330. It lies at the junction of Xin’an, Mianchi, and Yiyang counties. To the south are the Lanke Mountains, to the north lies the Yellow River, to the west it guards the Xiaoshan Mountain range, and to the east it faces the Hanguguan Pass. Within the town, the Qinglong and Fenghuang mountains stand opposite each other, forming an arch-like gateway, historically known as "Que Gate." The North and South Streams flow through the eastern part of the town, offering picturesque scenery, lush landscapes, abundant water sources, and convenient communication. The area is rich in mineral resources, mainly including coal, quartz stone, silica, bauxite, ... More detailed information about Tiemenzhen Town++

Further Reading:

· Sixth-Batch Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level