Designed by American architect Henry Murphy, the Tsinghua University Auditorium is located in the central part of Tsinghua University, facing the Second School Gate across a large lawn. It was initially constructed in September 1917 and completed in March 1920. Together with the library, science hall, and gymnasium, it forms the ‘Four Major Buildings’ of early Tsinghua. The auditorium integrates Greek and Roman architectural styles and has over 900 seats, making it the largest auditorium and lecture hall in Chinese universities at that time.
Situated at the northern end of the large lawn, the auditorium’s floor plan is in the shape of a perfect cross, with the southern end being the entrance hall and the northern end being the stage. The auditorium features an ancient castle-style dome, which is of the Byzantine Roman style, with each side adorned with a massive triangular pediment. The cross-shaped sloped roof complements the copper dome at the highest point. In front of the entrance, there are four white marble Ionic columns. These columns are about two zhang (a traditional Chinese unit of length) tall and can be embraced by two people. They have several longitudinal grooves and are designed with a round face at the intersection of each groove’s edges, with a volute-style capital resembling ram’s horns. The overall column design is standardized and delicate, full of vitality, and belongs to the ancient Greek Ionic style. The auditorium has three round-arched, large copper doors with exquisite relief carvings set within white marble door frames. The white portico and red brick walls form a stark contrast. The upper part of the door’s round arch contains a pattern made up of dozens of steel bars of varying thicknesses. This adds a touch of liveliness to the otherwise simple and dignified auditorium, with a large window above each main entrance. The opening hours are from 8:30 to 16:30, and it is closed during important events.Tsinghua University Auditorium
Designed by American architect Henry Murphy, the Tsinghua University Auditorium is located in the ce[...]
