Home / Culture
This year is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. As an important part of the China-France Culture Year, the government of Dongsheng town in Beijing’s Haidian district held an event to explore historic sites on March 24, attracting folk experts and journalists.
Among various historic sites in Haidian, the villa of Dr Jean Bussiere is a highlight. Dr Bussiere (1872-1960), who came to China in 1912, once served in the French legation in China.
The villa of Dr Bussiere has been renovated.
Apart from his medical skills, Dr Bussiere also made great contributions to the establishment of the former Sino-French University Shanghai branch. Spending several decades in Beijing, he gained a good reputation among local villagers.
Hu Baoshan, who is in his 80s, is the son of Hu Yushu, who studied in France when he was young and was a good friend of Dr Bussiere. He recalled with gratitude that Dr Bussiere treated his broken leg when he was a child.
Hu Baoshan, in his 80s, talks about Dr Bussiere.
The watchtower in the villa is where the doctor received patients when he was in Beijing.
The delegation also visited Beijing No 47 Middle School, a 91-year-old school established by Li Shizeng, the first Chinese to study in France. The school is the former Affiliated Hot Spring Middle School of Sino-French University.
Beijing No 47 Middle School, with a history of 91 years, is the former Affiliated Hot Spring Middle School of Sino-French University.
Zhang Wenda, a folk expert who graduated from the middle school, presented an old photograph album. On visiting a small forest with large stones on the campus, Zhang said that those stones and forests were set up by graduates of the school, and that has become a tradition of the school over many years.
Zhang Wenda, a folk expert and a graduate of the No 47 Middle School, talks about the watchtower in the villa of Dr Bussiere.
Saint-Jone Perse (1887-1975), a French poet who won the Nobel Literature Prize in 1960 for his masterpiece Anabase, also had a deep connection with China. It’s said that he finished a big part of his works in a temple in Western Hills in Haidian district, but unfortunately, the temple was destroyed many years ago.
The pavilion in the Western Hills of Haidian district, is preserved to commemorate Saint-Jone Perse, a French poet who received the Nobel Literature Prize in 1960.
However, there is a well-preserved pavilion. According to Zhang, the poet liked the pavilion very much when he lived there, and Zhang showed a photo of the poet in front of the pavilion.
Old photos collected by Zhang Wenda.
More research is needed in the history of the Western Hills area of Haidian district and its well-known French inhabitants. But the historic sites can serve as a friendship link connecting China and France.
(Photo by Le Qin)
