Name: Raju Maskey
Nationality: Nepal
University: Wuhan University
Location: Hubei
I first stepped foot on the sprawling Wuhan University campus in the summer of 2015. I was instantly captivated by its historical architecture and gorgeous landscape. It is one of the oldest universities in China and was founded in the late Qing Dynasty by the governor of Huguang Zhang Zhidong. The WHU campus sits on the Luojia hill and its boundaries extend to the shores of the East lake. Its campus architecture is a perfect mix of traditional and modern styles.
I really admire the unique architectural elements of the iconic buildings on campus, namely Sakura castle, the old library, the science building, the administrative building, and the Wanlin Art Museum. The old dormitory, colloquially known as Sakura castle, has a multilayered staircase leading to its flat concrete roof which looks over Cherry Avenue.
The roof provides a panoramic view of the picturesque Luojia hill and Wuhan skyline. Its façade is magnificent and its layout was planned in accordance with the sloppy terrains of the Shizi hill. The castle also has Xie Shan roofs with upturned eaves on the corners and these roofs are decorated with a row of animal figures on the ridges. The old library, located on top of the Shizi hill, has a spacious lecture hall where visiting scholars and dignitaries deliver lectures in front of large audiences.
This majestic palace-style structure has stone arches and a mono-eave Xie shan roof. The science building has a Byzantine-style dome which can be seen as an important Western influence on campus architecture. The administrative building, opposite the science building, has a glass roof supported by a steel beam truss and has two Roman-style watchtowers in front of it.
The Wanlin Art Museum, built in postmodern architectural style, has an aluminum alloy exterior that gives it the appearance of a gravelly meteorite. The eclectic newer buildings also share certain elements of the historical buildings and blend well with the surrounding architecture. Almost all the buildings have granite-gray brick walls and green-glazed tiled roofs which provide architectural consistency to the entire campus.
I believe the magnificent buildings and lush greenery inside the campus had a very strong influence on my mood and overall mental health. I never felt depressed when I was on campus. Whenever I felt overwhelmed with my studies, I would take some time off to walk around and admire the intricate designs of the campus buildings. The university also has a massive well-kept quad in front of the fifth teaching building where students gather during breaks to enjoy sunny weather.
I would feel happy to see people play with their pets, skate around, fly kites, and practice music in the quad. I also loved to run and cycle to the top of the wooded Luojia Hill and the natural canopies helped steady my nerves before the finals. Whenever I used to step out of the library after study sessions, I would often visit the art exhibitions curated by the Wanlin Art Museum, and those visits greatly enhanced my artistic tastes. On lovely days, I would exit the Lingbo gate at the east end of the campus and walk to the end of the narrow pier to see the sun setting over the serene lake. It feels heavenly to gaze over the golden reflection of the setting sun on the still water.
Our campus is known for cherry blossoms and attracts a large number of visitors to Cherry Avenue during its brief blooming period in early spring. Cherry Avenue has neatly arranged rows of different species of cherry trees on both sides of the road. The sheer diversity of native flora within the campus creates a pleasant experience for students throughout the year, not just in spring when the cherry trees blossom. The cool breeze wafts the sweet smell of Osmanthus flowers to nearby areas in autumn.
The campus roads are strewn with golden ginkgo leaves in the fall. I loved watching the hues of the trees change every fleeting season and I remember feeling melancholic that my days as a student on this idyllic campus were numbered. The Luojia hill is also home to a friendly red fox named Luoluo who has become a celebrity among students and visitors. I hoped to spot Luoluo during my evening runs on the hill but, sadly, I never came across it. The campus holds a special place in our hearts because of its unique architecture and natural landscape that enabled us to create special memories with close friends.
We have played football matches on the athletic fields, watched Hollywood movies on Friday nights at the amphitheater, and sat by the pond to chat with each other. We revisit the campus years after graduation to reminiscence our youthful memories made on this beautiful campus. I believe that my college experience has been accentuated by the historical and natural beauty of the campus and I cannot wait to visit it again.
