Imperial College - Guozijian

Located at No. 15 Guozijian Street inside Anding Gate, the Imperial College is neighboring the Temple of Confucius and the Yonghe Lamasery. Standing on the two sides of Guozijian Street are two rows of large Chinese locust trees (Chinese Scholar tree). Four colour-painted archways are respectively placed on east and west ends of the street and on the two sides of the gate of the Imperial College. This is the only street with four ancient archways left in Beijing. The Imperial College was the supreme institution of higher education during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and also the supreme authority in charge of national education affairs at that time. Now, it is the site of Capital Library. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection.

The Imperial College was founded together with the Temple of Confucius in the 10th year under the reign of Da De of the Yuan Dynasty (1306) in accordance with an ancient Chinese architectural rule, i.e. "a temple ion the left, and a college on the right". Consisting of three courtyards, the Imperial College is laid out in an axisymmetrical pattern with a central-axis. It boasts numerous classrooms, splendid structures, vigorous ancient trees and tranquil environment. Main buildings include Jixianmen (the Gate of Producing Talented Men), Biyong, Glazed Archway, etc. A stone engraved with Confucian scriptures is the only existent one in China.

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