Former Site of the National Northwest Institute of Technology

　　The Former Site of the National Northwest Institute of Technology (Guluba Catholic Church): Located in Guluba Village, Dongjiaying Township, 12 kilometers south of the county seat, it is a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. Originally built in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1888), it was one of the largest Catholic churches in the five northwestern provinces at the time. The church was designed by the Dutch and constructed by skilled Chinese artisans. The entire architectural complex features a unique design, ingenious conception, high-quality materials, and exceptional craftsmanship, making it of great artistic and aesthetic value. The surviving structures include the bishop’s residence and the nunnery, both of which remain well-preserved.

　　After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, Western missionaries returned to their home countries, and many domestic higher education institutions relocated to Hanzhong. As the Guluba Catholic Church was vacant, the former Peiyang Institute of Technology, the Engineering College of Peking University, the Engineering College of Northeastern University, and the Private Jiaozuo Institute of Technology merged to form the Engineering College of the National Northwest Associated University. It comprised eight academic departments and was housed in the Guluba Catholic Church for eight years. During this period, it trained over 13,000 undergraduates, 25 of whom later became academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, supplying the country with a large number of urgently needed professionals. The sound of students reading aloud replaced the former chanting of prayers, and the site became a place that awakened the public, inspired wisdom, pursued truth, and sought happiness. Guluba, along with Huaxiba in Chengdu and Shapingba in Chongqing, was known as one of the “Three Great Cultural Centers” in China during the war, leaving a glorious chapter in the history of Chinese culture and education.

　　The route from Dongjiaying Township through Qiligou to the church offers stunning scenery, especially between April and May when the mountain valleys come alive with blooming rapeseed flowers, wild chrysanthemums, locust blossoms, and more. The fragrant air creates a refreshing and uplifting experience.