武大英文网

Songqing Gymnasium

December 25, 2024

The Songqing Gymnasium is located at the foot of Lion Mountain, an integral part of Wuhan University's historic architectural complex. Constructed in 1935, it was funded by a generous donation of 100,000 silver dollars from Li Shaoji and Li Shaoye, sons of Li Yuanhong, whose courtesy name was Songqing. The funds, initially earmarked for establishing Jianghan University, were redirected to Wuhan University.

The gymnasium is in a reinforced concrete frame structure, measuring 35 meters in length, 21.3 meters in width, and 15.1 meters in height, with a total floor area of 2,748 square meters across two levels. The upper level houses a sports court, while the lower level serves as a gymnasium. Its roof features a distinctive design that combines a triple-hinged arch steel frame with reinforced concrete, creating a spacious span. The peacock-blue glazed tile roof follows the arch's graceful curves, forming a wheel-shaped gable with a three-tiered hip-and-gable structure, adorned with pavilions at each corner. The second floor includes an indoor grandstand and an outdoor viewing platform, designed to maximize natural lighting and ventilation through the height difference between tightly spaced eaves.

Seamlessly blending functionality, architectural artistry, and the advanced building techniques of its time, the Songqing Gymnasium remains a quintessential example of 1930s Chinese gymnasium architecture.