April 3, the day of the Crabapple Festival at Tianjin University (TJU), witnessed the opening ceremony to mark the successful reconstruction of the Qiushi Pavilion, an important symbol of TJU. The ceremony was presided over by Liu Dongzhi, the Vice-president. Zhong Denghua, the President, Zhao Jian, the alumni representative, Wu Fei, the designer of the new pavilion and Liu Jingyi, the student representative unveiled the plaque engraved with the TJU motto: “ShishiQiushi (Seeking Truth from Facts)”,.

The Qiushi Pavilion, originally built in 1984 at the same time as the Peiyang Square, is one of the most important symbols of TJU, which not only carries the motto, but also witnesses the growth of all the college students. In October, 2016, TJU decided to revamp the Qiushi Pavilion. After six months’ hard work by the designers and builders, the new building greets all students, teachers and visitors on the open day of the Crabapple Season.

Zhao Jian, the president of TJU Shaanxi Alumni Association said: “In 1982, I studied here at the Department of Civil Engineering. The Qiushi Hall and the plaque on the Qiushi Pavilion are etched deeply in my mind, infusing me with our motto ‘Seeking Truth from Facts’. It is with this motto in mind that I have devoted myself to my work which contributed to my success. Thanks to TJU and to all the people who attentively refurbished the Qiushi Pavilion. Whenever we come back to our alma mater and see the Qiushi Pavilion, Building No. 9 and our library, it seems that we are back to our youthful time again and we feel rejuvenated. I love my university.”

“Our new Qiushi Pavilion looks even more majestic and magnificent,” said Liu Jingyi, a senior student from Qiushi Honors College. “Whenever I mention my university to others, I will talk about our motto. Next year, after I will graduate I will always keep the motto in my heart no matter where I am and what kind of work I am doing.”

Li Biao, a senior student from the School of Management and Economics who has been watching the Qiushi Pavilion for a long time to be at the ceremony, says that he still has a clear memory of his first day at TJU. In the four years that have elapsed, it has changed him completely. “I will never forget the time I spent with my friends rambling along the banks of the Jingye Lake as well as chatting in the Qiushi Pavilion, appreciating the clear water and splendid evening glow. Later we will take our graduation photos in the Qiushi Pavilion.”

The original Qiushi Pavilion was designed by Peng Yigang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the School of Architecture at TJU. When designing the pavilion, Peng took all the surroundings into account, aiming to create a building harmonious with the environment. During the construction process, he often presented at the construction site, modifying the previous design to accord with the natural surroundings. It then became a symbolic building at Tianjin University.

During the reconstruction, Peng Yigang came to the site and consulted with Wu Fei about details of the design. As a special image in every student’s heart, the Qiushi Pavilion’s reconstruction has been the concern of everyone. As a designer who graduated from TJU, Wu Fei treated every detail of the design with precise care and finally presented us with a spendid new Qiushi Pavilion which respected the original style and appearance.

At the ceremony, Zheng Qi, Dean of the School of Architecture, on behalf of Peng Yigang, bestowed copies of the original hand drawings of the first Qiushi Pavilion as well as Peng’s collection of works on Liu Jingyi and Wu Fei. Wu Fei gave his hand drawings of the new Qiushi Pavilion to the university archives.

A photo exhibition with the theme of the Qiushi Pavilion, autograph activities in memory of the successful reconstruction and a lottery about the university motto featured as part of the ceremony.