西校门 the West School Gate

建筑别名：校友门 
建筑时间：1926年 
文物类别：建筑遗迹 
Alias : the Alumni Gate 
Time: 1926 
Category: Architectural relic

文物特色

风格古朴，庄严典雅，与颐和园东宫门相似，具有浓郁的民族风格。西校门为北京大学的正门，为古典三开朱漆宫门建筑，高不超过八米。西校门的门牌号是娄斗（兜）桥一号，处于北京大学的主轴线起点位置，是进入北大领略风光的最佳入口。西校门内是一座精心雕镂的石桥，由校友所捐。正对西门的是校园的主要建筑，即现在的办公楼，其间空地上还耸立着从圆明园牵来的两只华表。西校门向西而行，是清代名园鸣鹤园的遗迹，往南的一片绿地和荷塘，是明末画家米万种勺园故址。

西校门作为燕园的标志性建筑之一，已成为北大形象的重要代表，也是人们认识北大的重要窗口。经过岁月的洗礼西校门已演变为北大的象征，蕴含着丰富的精神文化内涵。

文物缘起

当初绘制校园规划图时，墨菲从玉泉山上的那座塔得到灵感，认为校园的主轴线，就应该指向那座塔，校园的主要建筑和湖，都应在主轴线上，墨菲以玉泉山的古塔作为端点，向东延伸作为校园的主轴线，由此确定了西校门的位置。这样他就一反北京坐北朝南的传统，设计燕园的主校门面朝西布置。

历史溯源

西校门在燕京大学时期是燕园唯一的正门，当时门正中悬挂着由蔡元培先生手书写的“燕京大学”四字匾额。1952年，北京大学迁入燕园以后，门正中换上了北京大学四字匾额。“北京大学”四字是毛泽东主席在1950年应北大学生会请求的亲笔题字放大而成，与红色的校门浑然一体。

Distinguishing feature

It has a unique, unsophisticated, and elegant style, composed of carved beams and colorfully painted rafters. It looks much similar to the Eastern Gate of the Summer Palace. With its traditional and national style, the Gate makes itself distinctive among surrounding constructions

The West Gate was built in 1926 with donation from alumni, so it is also called the Alumni Gate. As the former main entrance of Peking University, it is about eight meters high and faces to the west.

The West Gate is also the best starting point for visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the campus.The whole picture will make visitors think of a typical Suzhou garden. Many students of Peking University took their first picture at the Gate since it is the West Gate that opens to them a path to the holy hall of knowledge.