Peking University (abbreviated
PKU and colloquially known by the
Chinese as
Běidà ; Chinese: 北京大学,
pinyin: Běijīng Dàxué), is a major Chinese
research university located in
Beijing and a member of the
C9 League. It is the first modern national university established in China, founded as the "Imperial University of Peking" in 1898 as a replacement of the ancient
Taixue or
Guozijian, or Imperial Academy. It also served as the highest administration for education in China at the beginning of its founding. By 1920, it had become a center for progressive thought. Alongside
Tsinghua University, Peking University is consistently ranked as the top higher learning institution in
mainland China. In addition to academics, Peking University is especially renowned for its campus grounds, and the beauty of its traditional Chinese architecture.