【TJU Landmarks】Zheng Dong Library

A university library is more than just a repository of books, it is the spiritual home of an academic institution. At Tianjin University, the library is revered as a sacred palace, a cherished landmark for all students and faculty. From the historic Old Library and the Science Library to the New Library and the Architecture Library, Tianjin University’s library facilities now span approximately 69,000 square meters.

On the university’s 119th anniversary, alumnus Zheng Dong generously established the Zheng Dong Alumni Education Fund, dedicated to supporting the construction of a new library on campus. As a tribute to his generosity, Tianjin University named the library in his honor—thus, Zheng Dong Library came into being.

Designed by Zhou Kai, a distinguished alumnus and recipient of China’s highest architectural honor, the Liang Sicheng Architecture Award, the library draws inspiration from traditional Chinese courtyard-style spaces. At its heart lies an open, fluid design — a place where past and present, tradition and innovation, scholarship and contemplation converge.

With its distinctive architectural charm, Zheng Dong Library has become one of the university’s most poetic landscapes, a haven of books and intellect, earning its reputation as the “most beautiful library.”

At the library’s entrance, two Xifu crabapple trees stand in quiet elegance, their blossoms abundant in spring, their fruits ripening in autumn. Within the courtyard, stately plane trees extend their canopy toward the sky, while at the center, a serene reflecting pool mirrors the ever-changing sky—capturing the fleeting passage of time in rippling blues and silvers. In spring, one admires the crabapple blossoms, in summer, the lush green canopy, in autumn, the golden plane leaves, in winter, the silent snowfall. Through all seasons, the library stands as a silent witness to the pursuit of knowledge.

To study at Tianjin University is not just an academic pursuit — it is a way of life.

The first-floor, reminiscent of a traditional Chinese courtyard, is bordered by bamboo groves swaying gently in the wind. To the northeast, the "Seven Stars" Study Room remains alight through the night—a 24-hour place for learning. Its name echoes a defining chapter of the university’s history: in 1937, as war engulfed China and Peiyang University (Tianjin University’s predecessor) was forced westward to Shanxi, students continued their studies by the dim glow of oil lamps in a humble temple called “Seven Stars Temple.” Among them was Shi Changxu, later a renowned scientist and recipient of the National Highest Science and Technology Award. Deprived of electricity, students burned midnight oil—literally—persevering in their quest for knowledge, their flickering lamps forming a constellation of light in the darkness. Generations later, the warm glow of reading lamps in Zheng Dong Library mirrors those tiny flames of the past, carrying forward the university’s enduring mission—learning as a means to strengthen the nation.

Here, light and shadow dance upon the walls, composing the library’s most eloquent poetry.

At dawn, sunlight streams through the lattice beams, casting shifting patterns across the corridors. On the third and fourth floors, the play of light upon the walls forms a canvas where time and destiny seem to intertwine.

The library’s design reflects a deep harmony between space and purpose. The second and third floors house extensive collections of science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Along the windows, rows of study desks stretch endlessly—one side facing an ocean of books, the other, a garden where the seasons unfold. Separated only by glass, students hear the murmur of wind and rain, the soft rustle of pages, and the quiet pulse of the world outside. To read is to connect—to one's time, to one’s people, to the vast world beyond.

The fourth floor is where East and West meet. In the Western literature section, classical European elements frame an atmosphere of quiet diligence: “A mountain of books, an ocean of knowledge—diligence as the path, perseverance as the vessel.” Nearby, the periodicals section offers the latest newspapers and journals; seated in its warm glow, students pore over articles, their thoughts suspended between ink and time. In the northwest corner, the Rixin Study holds a rare collection of classical Chinese works, including “The Reconstructed Ancient Classics of China” and “The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries.” The study is furnished with Ming-style wooden desks, silk-screen dividers, and traditional chess, Go, and guqin instruments—a sanctuary steeped in the essence of Chinese heritage.

The name "Rixin" (Daily Renewal) is drawn from the Book of Rites: “If one can improve oneself in a day, one should continue to do so daily, and never cease to renew.” This spirit of constant innovation is deeply embedded in Tianjin University’s ethos.

The Special Collections Room preserves Western texts dating back to the university’s founding in 1895, a testament to its pioneering role in modern Chinese education. Here, one finds a portrait of Sheng Xuanhuai, along with paintings such as "Finding Solace in Rivers and Mountains " by Wang Xuezhong and "Lotus Pond Moonlight" by Sun Guoxi. Where tradition nurtures the mind, technological innovation finds its wings.

Tucked into a quiet corner of the library is a "Book Floating Zone"—a place where graduates, as they embark on new journeys, leave behind cherished books for future readers. “Books drift like light boats, carrying the flame of knowledge from one generation to the next.” These books, filled with notes and annotations, hold not just knowledge, but the struggles, dreams, and perseverance of past students. To open their pages is to engage in a conversation across time.

Beyond the glass walls, tree branches sway in the wind, sunlight filters through white blinds, and wooden desks glow in the afternoon light. Here, scholarship and dedication manifest in every detail—the students poring over notes, the quiet figure in the corner memorizing formulas, the research teams deep in discussion, the impassioned speakers in the media rooms. The spirit of rigorous scholarship that defines Tianjin University is woven into every corner of Zheng Dong Library, and into the hearts of every student who walks its halls.

Across the twelve hours of the day, the library sees light shifting—the first rays of dawn, the golden warmth of noon, the soft hues of dusk, the quiet glow of midnight stars. As the closing music plays, the lights dim, and the campus is bathed in starlight.

Tianjin University students, your efforts are now written into the records of time.

By: Hu Yinan

Eitor: Qin Mian