It’s the country’s most competitive school, especially for applicants from a rural background, which is why it became a gathering place for the best and brightest students. Words cannot adequately describe how much Beida shaped me and how much I loved the time I spent there. Founded in 1898 by an American missionary, Peking University sits at the northwest corner of the city on a campus studded with buildings modeled on traditional Chinese architectural designs. The lake, the bell tower at the top of a little hill, and the gardens that flower year-round give Beida a feeling of secluded peace and privilege. In such an idyllic setting, it was hard for any young student not to feel the zest of enthusiasm. The Triangle was the heart of campus, the place where, all day long, students’ paths crossed on the way to class, to the dining hall, or to exercise. And it was there at the Triangle we encountered a blizzard of postings for lectures by famous visitors, English contests, sporting events, weekend dances, musical performances, film showings, and flyers for the occasional demonstration or local election.
