Yingqiu College of Yunnan University in Kunming

Yingqiu College云南大学映秋院, located on the Donglu Campus of Yunnan University (云南大学) in Kunming, was built in 1938 with funding from Gu Yingqiu (顾映秋), the wife of Yunnan’s then governor Long Yun (龙云). Designed by renowned architect Lin Huiyin (林徽因), the building blends traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles. Originally a female dormitory, it has hosted prominent figures like painter Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿). In 1987, it was designated a provincial-level key cultural relic. Today, it functions as an administrative office space for the university, preserving its historical and architectural significance.

Location and Protection Status

• Location: Donglu Campus of Yunnan University, 2 Cuihu North Road, Wuhua District, Kunming (昆明市五华区翠湖北路2号)

• Protection Level: Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit (省级重点文物保护单位)

• Designer: Lin Huiyin (林徽因)

• Donor: Gu Yingqiu (顾映秋)

• Construction Year: 1938 (1938年)

• Current Usage: Administrative office space for the university (学校办公场所)

History of the Building

The Yingqiu College was built in 1938, funded by Gu Yingqiu (顾映秋), the wife of Long Yun (龙云), the then governor of Yunnan Province. The design of the building was led by renowned architect Lin Huiyin (林徽因), commissioned by the president of Yunnan University, Xiong Qinglai (熊庆来). Originally named “Yingqiu Xueshe” (映秋学舍), the structure incorporates both traditional and Western architectural styles. The building was initially used as a female dormitory and hosted famous individuals, such as painter Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿). In 1987, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

In 1992, the building was renovated during the university’s anniversary celebrations and converted into a reinforced concrete structure.

Architectural Features

The building complex follows a “匚”-shaped courtyard layout:

• The southern wing is a single-story building, while the west and northern wings are two stories.

• The northeast corner features the Moon Palace Gate (月宫门), and the southwest corner houses a three-story conical roof watchtower (瞭望塔).

• The roof design integrates two traditional Chinese architectural styles: the Xieshan (歇山顶) and Xuanshan (悬山顶).

• Corridors and walkways connect the various functional areas of the building.

Notable Events

• On April 10, 1955, Premier Zhou Enlai (周恩来) visited the site for work inspection.

• During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the building was used as a venue for cultural exchanges and hosted notable figures, such as painter Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿) and physicist Peng Huanwu (彭桓武).

Its annex building, Zeqing Hall (泽清堂), was donated by Long Yun’s daughter, Long Zeqing (龙泽清), and together they form a sister architectural complex.

Preservation and Current Status

In 1987, the building was officially listed by the Yunnan Provincial Government as a provincial key cultural relic protection unit. The structure retains its original architectural features, and the watchtower and Moon Palace Gate have been preserved as landmark components. Currently, the building serves as the administrative office for Yunnan University (云南大学) and is open to the public with round-the-clock management.