Peking University, Mar.21, 2014: Organized by the International Faculty Club, a group of foreign professors gathered for a spring outgoing in Beijing Botanic Garden. Immersed in the beauty of Botanic Garden, Professors spent a pleasant day in the Botanic Garden and the Yellow Leaf Village.



As it is said in Dun Cheng’s poem, Cao Xueqin spent his last years in Yellow Leaf Village composing his great work A Dream in Red Mansions. In the galleries of the Village, professors learnt about Cao Xueqin and his masterpiece through pictures and transcript. Many relevant historical conditions are new to them: banner system and feudal bureaucracy in Qing Dynasty; relationship outside and at home of the big families; the former landscape of Xishan Mountains. From those the professors got a brief view of living surroundings of Cao as well as the background of the book.
 

After visiting the Village, professors continued their trip. In peach grove did they cheer and on green hills did they sing. A wonderful day ended up with a delectable dinner for all.

Hosted by the Office of International Relations of PKU, the International Faculty Club is a platform for the foreign teachers to exchange ideas and to get better understand of the university and of China. In the past three years, IFC has organized dozens of activities like sightseeing tour, visiting museums, and specialist seminar. To get more information about the Club, you can log on http://www.oir.pku.edu.cn:8082/html/faculty3.html

Written by: Liu Yiwei