Peking University, July 16, 2022: 8 July 2022 marks the start of the Exhibition for 70th Anniversary of International Student Education at Peking University.

Peking University has a long history of international student education. Dating back to September 1952 when the "Chinese Language Specialized Class for Eastern European Exchange Students" programme was launched at PKU, the first group international students entered PKU—this marked the beginning of international student education at Yanyuan.






For the past 70 years, PKU has been actively promoting reform through opening up, and development through cooperation. By strengthening the "Study in China Plan", "Study at Peking University Plan", "International Development Strategy", and "Opinions on the Opening Education Work in the New Era", international student education at PKU has seen progress in leaps and bounds. To date, PKU has had more than 110,000 international students hailing from over 190 countries.



Today, the PKU campus gathers talented people from all over the world to learn, live, and make progress together. PKU has become an important platform for the promotion of international dialogue and exchange, and the mutual appreciation between civilizations.



The "Exhibition for the 70th Anniversary of International Student Education at Peking University" is specially launched by the International Students Division of the PKU Office of International Relations. It is divided into four thematic units, namely "Early History of International Student Education at Peking University", "Group Portraits of Peking University International Students in 70 years", "Representatives of Peking University International Alumni" and "Peking University International Students and Their Beloved Teachers".

These four thematic units chart the progress of PKU's international student education and its achievements both in China and abroad. In this exhibition, we will document history, pay tribute to our predecessors, and in doing so, build the foundation for the future and show how we can thrive with the times.





01 Chapter One:  History of International Student Education at PKU





After the establishment of the PRC, PKU was among the earliest Chinese universities to welcome international students. This unfortunately changed during the 1960s due to the turbulent international political landscape. However, in the 1970s, PKU managed to reboot its international education program and has seen a growing international student population since.

02 Chapter Two:  Group Portraits of PKU International Students in 70 Years



Integral to the development of PKU's international student education, is every single Pekinger from abroad. They are the partakers as well as witnesses of how PKU's international student education has evolved over the years. In this chapter, you will find the group portraits of Pekingers who have travelled from afar, to pursue their dreams and visions here in the PKU campus.

03 Chapter Three: Representatives of PKU International Alumni


They relished their youths by the Weiming Lake. They tirelessly chased after knowledge here in Yanyuan. They then left, to make a name for themselves, to leave their footprint on the world. They are PKU's proud international alumni! This is their story with PKU, China and the world.

04 Chapter Four:  PKU International Students and Their Beloved Teachers



Teachers play a tremendous part in every international student's experience in PKU. To international students, their teachers are their educators, mentors, but also their friends. Witness the meaningful and evergreen bonds that have been formed between PKU's international students and their teachers.



In the blink of an eye, international student education in PKU has budded and flourished for 70 years. Thank you for sailing with us through the crests and troughs on this journey—here's to 70 years and beyond!



Writted by: Vissly Chan
Edited by: Chan Zi Qing
Designed by: Lean Zhi Xuan
Source: International Students Division, Office of International Relations, PKU