Peking University  北京大學(xué)

 Score: 100.00

Rank 2012: 1

Rank 2011: 1

Rank on Researcher Wu Shulian's 2012 University List: 2

Website: http://english.pku.edu.cn

Founded as the Imperial University of Peking in 1898 to replace the Imperial College (Guozijian), Peking University (PKU) is distinguished for excellence in social sciences. It's regarded as one of the two most prestigious universities in China. The university had become a center of progressive thought as early as 1920. It distinguished itself as the birthplace of China's New Culture and May Fourth Movement, and has been a fountainhead of Marxism, democracy and scientific thought in China, and one of the CPC's strongholds. Throughout its history, it has made invaluable contributions to the nation's founding, development and social progress. It has nurtured and hosted a great number of famed Chinese thinkers, including Mao Zedong, author Lu Xun and CPC cofounder Li Dazhao. PKU boasts the largest library among all Asian universities, housing more than 10 million books.