Imperial College

Imperial College is the college during Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties can be found in Beijing’s Chengxian Street (Guozijian Street), it is also besides the Confucius Temple. Imperial College (Guozijian), the highest educational institution of Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, situates in Chengxian Street (Guojijian Street). In modern term, the Imperial College is a national institution of higher learning in the capital.

The students in the Imperial College studied three or four years. Their classrooms were named according to the years they had studied in the Imperial College. After graduation, they could directly go to government institutions at different levels, or alternatively, pass the national imperial examination and become jinshi, and then be appointed to different official posts by the emperor.

As the Western progressive culture and education system were introduced into China, the first new style school the Institute of Diplomatic Relations was founded in 1862. China's first modern national university Metropolitan University was established in 1898. In 1905 the Qing government abolished the system of imperial examinations, closed the Imperial College, and established the Education Ministry. The Imperial College quitted the history. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the site of former Imperial College became the Capital Library and the site of Confucius Temple, National Museum. They still play their part in disseminating Chinese culture.