RouteWest Gate of Peking University - University Administration Building - Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology - Red Lake - Jingchun Garden - Langrun Garden - First Gymnasium - Boya Pagoda - Bell Pavilion - 6 Yards - Yannan Garden - Centennial Lecture Hall - University Library - South Gate of Peking University

West Gate of Peking University

First, we start from the West Gate of the university which was built in 1926 with a fund raised by the alumni. It is a classical red painted palace gate and has rich national characteristics. The stone lions on both sides make it even more stately and impressive. Entering the gate, you will see grand grassland in front of the University Administration Building with symmetrical "Huabiao" (ornamental columns), maidenhair trees and two classroom buildings for foreign language and chemistry. The Administration Building is also in the red-painted classical style, and is now where the university president works.

Turn north along the road about 230 meters and you will see the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913 - 1987) was an American psychiatrist, art collector and philanthropist. He cared deeply about Chinese Cultural Relics Protection and endowed this museum in 1986. Then we ride eastward on Jingchun Road. The Greenhouse, Archaeology Teaching Building, Biotechnology Building, Animal Set around Red Lake and the 6 Red Mansions are along the way. Continue riding about 900 meters. Jingchun Garden is 200 meters to the left and Langrun Garden is 250 meters in front. These two gardens are two of the eight ancient garden sites of the Qing Dynasty. The buildings in the gardens are in the traditional siheyuan (Beijing Quadrangle) style and are now where the China Center for Economic Research is located. After the reconstruction and rededication in 2006, it is now the most beautiful corner of the campus.

Boya Pagoda and Weiming Lake

Turning south here, you will be on North Weiming Road which is on the north shore of Weiming Lake. Riding around the lake, you will find the First Gymnasium is on the east shore. Continue southward for about 200 meters, there is the symbol of Peking University - Boya Pagoda - which was built in 1924 and originally used as a water tower.

Ride westward along Linhu Road for about 500 meters. The Bell Pavilion is situated on a little hill. The bell was the instrument of time for classes at the very beginning. Now even though they use electric bells, the bell ringing on the campus is still cherished in memory. Ride another 700 meters to the south, passing through the 6 Yards which were used as the girls' dormitories during the period of the Republic of China, and you will reach Yannan Garden.

Campus of Peking University

Yannan Garden is known as the holy land in Peking University. In this recent century, it witnessed the lives and studies of many great and classical scholars of China. Democracy and Science is the spirit here that everyone should respect and worship. On the east side of Yannan Garden is the Centennial Lecture Hall. It was built in 1998 for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary and has been used as a modern multifunctional theater since 2005. Ride to north and on the east side of the 6 Yards is the University Library. It has a collection of almost 6,000,000 books and is the second largest library in the country.

Last, ride along the Wusi Road which is on the east side of the library. You will exit the campus through the South Gate of Peking University. If you have more time, you can visit the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace and Qinghua University which are very near Peking University.