Peking University

Peking University
Name	Peking University
Caption	The main gate of Peking University
Established	1898
Type	Public
President	Gong Qihuang
City	Beijing
Country	China
Campus	Urban (Haidian District), Suburban (Changping District)
Affiliations	C9 League, Association of Pacific Rim Universities, International Alliance of Research Universities

Peking University. Founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, it is a major research university and a founding member of the prestigious C9 League. Located primarily in Beijing's Haidian District, its campus is renowned for its traditional Chinese architecture and gardens. The institution is consistently ranked among the top academic institutions in Asia and the world.

History

The university was established by the Qing dynasty's Guangxu Emperor as part of the Hundred Days' Reform, with its first chancellor being Sun Jianai. It was renamed National Peking University following the Xinhai Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of China (1912–1949). Under the leadership of chancellor Cai Yuanpei, it became a center for the New Culture Movement and its faculty and students were pivotal figures in the May Fourth Movement. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it was merged with Yenching University and relocated to its current main site at the former Yenching University campus. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it was a significant site during events like the Cultural Revolution.

Campus

The main campus, known as "Yan Yuan," is situated in northwest Beijing in the Haidian District, near the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace. Its grounds feature traditional Chinese landscape design, including the famous Weiming Lake and the Boya Pagoda. Historic buildings such as the Shao Yuan dormitory complex and the Centennial Hall are notable landmarks. The university also operates a graduate school and research facilities at the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and has science parks in Changping District. The campus houses several major museums, including the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology.

Academics

It comprises over 30 colleges and schools, including the School of Mathematical Sciences, the Guanghua School of Management, and the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science. The institution is particularly renowned for its programs in the natural sciences, economics, and law, with the Peking University Law School being one of the most selective in China. It operates the affiliated Peking University Health Science Center, which includes schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health. The core undergraduate curriculum emphasizes a broad liberal arts education through its Yuanpei College program.

Research

The university is a core institution for national research initiatives such as the Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class University Plan. It hosts numerous national key laboratories, including the State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research and the Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences. Researchers have made significant contributions to fields like quantum physics, nanotechnology, and genomics. The university is a leading partner in major international scientific projects, including collaborations with CERN and the Human Genome Project. Its research output is disseminated through prestigious journals like *Science China*.

Notable alumni and faculty

The university's community includes a distinguished roster of Nobel laureates such as Tu Youyou (Physiology or Medicine) and Mo Yan (Literature). Notable scientific figures include mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, a Fields Medalist, and physicist Chen-Ning Yang. In the humanities, influential philosophers like Hu Shih and Feng Youlan taught here. Alumni in public service include former Premier Li Keqiang and diplomat Wang Yi. Literary giants such as Lu Xun and Mao Dun were also associated with the institution.

International relations

The university maintains extensive global partnerships through networks like the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It operates joint degree programs with institutions such as Yale University, the London School of Economics, and Waseda University. The Yenching Academy offers a prestigious scholarship program for international graduate students. The university is a key participant in student exchange frameworks like the Erasmus Programme and hosts numerous international conferences, including the Beijing Forum. It also collaborates closely with the United Nations on various educational and sustainable development initiatives.

Category:Universities in Beijing Category:1898 establishments in China