"The Most Beautiful University in Shanghai" St. John's University · Gezhi Building

St. John's University is one of the most famous missionary universities in modern China, founded in 1879. Originally named St. John's College, it was formed by merging two Episcopal schools, Pei Ya College and Doon College, under the direction of Joseph Schereschewsky, the Episcopal Bishop of Shanghai. The university was established on land purchased at Fanhuangdu in western Shanghai (now Wanhangdu Road) and was the first school in China to offer courses entirely in English. Starting in 1892, the university officially offered college courses. By 1896, the school had established a teaching structure including liberal arts, science, medicine, theology, and preparatory courses. It was the only higher education institution in Shanghai at the time and had a profound impact on the reform of higher education in the southeastern region. In 1905, it officially became St. John's University and was registered in Washington State, USA, becoming a church school in China recognized by the U.S. government. The university comprised five colleges: the College of Arts, College of Science, College of Medicine, College of Engineering, and College of Theology, along with an affiliated preparatory school. St. John's University was the first school to introduce Western teaching styles into China and was one of the best universities in Shanghai and all of China at the time. Many students were descendants of political and business elites or wealthy families, and its outstanding alumni are numerous and illustrious: Wellington Koo, T.V. Soong, Rong Yiren, Lin Yutang, Zhou Youguang, I.M. Pei, Zou Taofen, Jing Shuping... In 1950, St. John's University announced its separation from the American Episcopal Church. In 1952, during the nationwide adjustment of colleges and departments, St. John's University was abolished, dismantled, and merged into several universities in Shanghai. In the same year, East China University of Political Science and Law was established on the former site of St. John's University. The remaining historic buildings of St. John's University are simple and elegant, blending Chinese and Western styles, truly deserving the title of "The Most Beautiful University in Shanghai." On October 7, 2019, they were announced as the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Our exploration begins with the Gezhi Building: Gezhi Building (Building No. 42), originally named Gezhi Room, is the first building in China specifically dedicated to teaching natural sciences. Its foundation was laid on November 20, 1898, and the completion ceremony was held on July 19, 1899. Gezhi Room faces east to west and, together with the north-south oriented Huai Shi Hall, encloses a small square. It is a three-story brick and wood structure, stylistically consistent with Huai Shi Hall, both designed by Tonghe Trading Company, featuring Western-style exterior corridor arches combined with a Chinese-style roof. The main facade faces west, with slightly protruding small pavilion-like eaves in the center on both sides; the southeast side features a European castle-style round tower with upturned flying eaves on top, a very typical traditional Chinese architectural style. In 2018, East China University of Political Science and Law carried out a 10-month restoration project on the Gezhi Building. This was the first restoration project among the St. John's University historic buildings to be completed strictly according to the principle of "not altering the original state of the cultural relics" under the Cultural Relics Protection Law.