“Architecture is a visual art and the buildings speak for themselves”, said Julia Morgan, a famous American architect. Indeed, some buildings do speak for themselves. They represent their own history in a nutshell. Tsinghua Xuetang is one of those epitomes of the whole of Tsinghua’s history.

Located in the southwest of the lawn in front of the Auditorium in Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Xuetang is a solemn and exotic building with a façade of black bricks and a sloped roof coated with crimson tiles. Its construction began back in 1909 when the Qing Dynasty’s government allocated the Tsinghua Garden to the Bureau of Educational Mission to the United States.

From April 1911, over 30 Chinese and international teachers started teaching more than 400 students from across China in Tsinghua Xuetang, raising the curtain on more than 100 years of Tsinghua’s history.

Of all the buildings built during the early days of Tsinghua’s history, Tsinghua Xuetang was one of the few that still exists today. Inside the building, it’s not hard for visitors to sense an American style – the waxed floor and double casement windows, to name a few.

In 1925, the Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Learning was established and the “Great Four Tutors” – Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao, Chen Yinque and Zhao Yuanren – encouraged students to delve into the beauty of Chinese literature, history and philosophy. It is in Tsinghua Xuetang where brilliant students, for the first time, had their voices heard through loud recitation.

From the 1930s till early Liberation days, Tsinghua Xuetang was the administrative building where numerous well-known educators have worked. Famous paintings hanging in the corridors remind people of the past glories and lessons learned.

In 2011, the “Tsinghua Xuetang Talents Program” was launched, turning the building into a location dedicated to teaching. Talents from around the world gather here to conduct scientific research and pursue their dreams.

Throughout its long history, Tsinghua Xuetang has witnessed countless passers-by, and sits silently to watch the chapters of Tsinghua flipping by. It guards the university with passion and loyalty, and sends generations of youths on their journeys.

Writer: Liwen Zhang

Editors: John Olbrich, Liu Shutian