Peking University or Beijing University (pinyin Běijīng Dàxué), colloquially Beida (北大, pinyin běidà), is one of the most prestigious universities in China. It was opened in December 1898 during the Hundred Days Reform, originally known as the Metropolitan University (京師大學堂, pinyin: jīng shī dà xué táng).

In 1912, the Metropolitan University was renamed as Peking University. Famous scholar Cai Yuanpei was appointed the principal on January 4, 1917 and contributed to the transforming the university into the country's largest institution of higher learning, with 14 departments and an enrollment of more than 2,000 students. In 1919 it became the first Chinese university to accept female students.

During the Japanese occupation, Peking University was moved to Kunming. Together with Tsinghua University and Nankai University, formed the National Southwestern Associated University.

In 1946, after World War II, Peking University moved back to Beijing. At that time, the university comprised six schools (Arts, Science, Law, Medicine, Agriculture), and a research institute for the humanities. The total student enrollment grew to 3,000.

When the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, there was a major readjustment. Yenching University was merged with Peking University and combined institution took on Yenching's location.

By 1962, the total enrollment grew to 10,671 undergraduate students and 280 graduate students.

The university is designated as National Key University. It holds numerious Number One among Chinese universities. Its long time rival is Tsinghua University.

The university campus is very beautiful. The university boasts modern facilities, leading scholars, and talented students. With eight million items in stock, the university library is the largest of its kind in Asia.

Peking University has trained more than 100,000 students, many of them have became the backbones of the country on all fronts in China.

Peking University aspires to become a world class university like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton in the United States. However, as of now, Peking University sends most of its top talent to overseas universities due to a comparatively weaker research program prevalent at Peking University as well as at all other Chinese universities.

Scholars who lectured in the university include:

• Cai Yuanpei
• Chen Duxiu
• Ch'ien Mu
• Hu Shih
• Liao Shantao
• Tian Gang

See also

• 7072 Beijingdaxue - asteroid named after Peking University
• List of universities in Mainland China

External links

• English Homepage (http://en.pku.edu.cn/)