Former Site of Fu Jen Catholic University, Beijing

Former Site of Fu Jen Catholic University, Beijing

The former site of Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Fu Jen University, abbreviated as Fu Da, was formerly known as Fu Ren She, Peking Catholic University, Private Peking Fu Jen University, Private Peiping Fu Jen University, and National Fu Jen University. It had both national and private statuses. Among them, the private Peking/Peiping Fu Jen University was a university during the Republic of China era, co-founded by Ma Xiangbo, who was also one of the founders of Fudan University. It was also one of the predecessor institutions of Beijing Normal University, the Philosophy Department of Peking University, Renmin University of China, Central University of Finance and Economics, and China University of Political Science and Law. In 1952, it was merged into the aforementioned five universities.

Fu Jen University was once ranked among the four most prestigious universities in Peking in the early 20th century, alongside Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Yenching University. It remains well-known among overseas Chinese communities today. Apart from being a breakthrough site for campus democracy during Taiwan’s period and a stronghold of political influence, it has also become one of the few private universities in Taiwan with a large number of distinguished alumni in law and politics, academia, media, arts, textiles, and sports. These alumni include a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, a significant number of academicians, national athletes, and members of parliament. Due to the university's important roles in politics and religion, the Apostolic Nuncio to Taiwan regularly participates in university affairs, and the presence of diplomatic vehicles on campus is common.

As the only Taiwanese higher education institution since the 21st century to voluntarily reduce tuition and fees, Fu Jen University has been consistently ranked by the British Times Higher Education as a “university around the world’s top 500” since 2006. Its overall ranking is tenth in Taiwan, and it ranks second in the “Humanities and Arts” field. Currently, besides owning the world-class business school that was the first in both Mainland China and Taiwan to receive AACSB accreditation, it also continues to lead Taiwan in “international resources” and the “pass rate of medical school national exams.” In recent years, with funding ranked third in Taiwan under the “University Teaching Excellence Project,” the university has plans to enable Fu Jen University Hospital’s revenue to cover 90% of its operating expenses, and there are also ongoing plans to re-establish Fu Jen High School.

In May 2013, the former site of Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: No. 1 Dingfu Street, Xicheng District, Beijing (near Songshu Street)

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units