Hangzhou Educational Legacy: Qiushi Academy

Qiushi Academy is located at 160 University Road, Old Zhejiang University Community, Xiaoying Subdistrict, Shangcheng District. Originally named Puci Temple, it was founded as Qiushi Academy by Lin Qi, the governor of Hangzhou in the 23rd year of Guangxu Reign of Qing Dynasty (1897), and underwent several name changes. In the 27th year of Guangxu Reign (1901), it was renamed Qiushi College, and in the 29th year of Guangxu Reign (1903), it was renamed Zhejiang Higher Education School. Due to the reform of higher education system in the third year of Republican China (1914), it was temporarily closed, but reopened in the 9th year of Republican China (1920). In the 17th year of Republican China (1928), it was renamed Zhejiang University.

The main hall and side hall of Qiushi Academy still exist today and both face south. The main hall is the original site of the Puci Temple's main hall and has a width of five rooms, a single-eave hipped roof, and an attached winged roof structure in the shape of a protruding "convex" character. The main hall is a large hall with six partition doors connecting to the winged roof structure and a square brick pavement. The internal beam structure consists of seven raised beams with front and back three-step corridors. The external eaves have the bucket arch of Pingshengke. The main room has four sets of such bucket arches, the side room has three sets while the end room has one set. The corners have curled eaves with decorative wooden components such as replacement wood, hanging flower pillars, and decorated brackets, which are exquisitely carved. Stone square columns are also added, and on the internal pillars of the main room, there are two sets of wooden components known as douqi and niutui as well as vivid images of lions playing with pearls, etc. A black gold-lettered plaque hangs on the front of the building, with the word "Qiushi Academy" written in regular script. A pair of couplets in regular script hangs on both sides of the plaque, which reads "The Brahman beyond the Dharma realm, all rely on the Buddha's power. The towering and wonderful appearance rivals all heavens; The Pure Land connects with Penglai, with great effort and exquisite structure creating a land of bliss."

The side hall has a rectangular shape with a width of 5 rooms, a gabbled roof , and wooden carved components such as niutui and lianji at the eaves.

The founding of Qiushi Academy marked the emergence of modern higher education in Zhejiang Province and is typical and representative among modern academies and new schools in Zhejiang Province. It is also one of the earliest comprehensive universities in China with both liberal arts and science programs, pioneering a new model for modern education in China, and has broad and profound significance for the development of modern education in China. On August 29, 1997, the building was listed among the fourth batch of cultural relics protected at the provincial level by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province.