So many of us want to study in Hogwarts from the Harry Potter world…A beautiful castle, winding staircases, and gorgeous Great Hall! Did you know that China has a “Hogwarts” university of its own? Hebei Academy of Fine Arts is a stunning university in northern China that features gorgeous castles and gothic-style buildings overlooking a lake. Could you get any more magical?
Why I Love The Harry Potter Series
As a huge fan of Harry Potter I have personally read all the books and movies again and again. When I close the book or my laptop, I always have this strange feeling. Or, should I say feelings?
I feel joy, sadness, love, hate, and even jealousy.
Do you know what I’m talking about? And if you do, do you know why?
I wish I could study in Hogwarts. I wish I could go there and explore the castle, create magic and meet unicorns and hippogriffs. I wish I could go back in time and have a hat to decide my future. I wish I lived in that magical place.
Don’t you? And if I said that there is a chance to make at least part of that dream come true, would you grab that chance?
Well, there’s a possibility to make that happen. And who would think that Hogwarts can be this close, not in another universe, but here, on Earth? In China?
Hebei Academy of Fine Arts
Zhen Zhongyi, artist and visionary businessman, founded the academy in 1996. The school has around 8,000 students, majoring in subjects such as traditional Chinese fine art, architecture and design.
Located in Xinle city in China’s Northern Province, the building costs 2.4 billion yuan (£246million).
Why was it built like a castle?
A spokesman for the Hebei Academy of Fine Arts Dewei Sung said, “We want our students to be inspired and this impressive fairytale architecture is exactly what they need for working in a creative environment.”
“It’s important for the students and for the staff to feel that they are a part of something special, and that is enough magic to ensure what we have created is a fine institution for furthering interest in and study of the arts.”
The university made headlines last year when overseas media compared its new campus building to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter series of children’s novels.
Authorities from the academy explained that they didn’t try to build a Chinese version of Hogwarts though. In fact, the castle serves as an animation studio for students and is called “Cinderella’s Castle”.
Zhen Mo, head of the management committee of the academy, told China.org in July, “The castle is designed in the Gothic style and modelled on castles of medieval Europe, and it combines several elements of old European architecture.”
But after you take a look at the university you can’t say it doesn’t have any resemblance with Hogwarts. It even has a Chinese version of Dumbledore, to be exact.
Zhen became aware of the Harry Potter series last year, he said, adding he noticed the building’s style is “pretty much the same” as Hogwarts. Asked about comparisons with the wizardry school’s charismatic headmaster Albus Dumbledore, he replied enigmatically, “I think our style of thinking is somewhat similar.”
The campus contains the Gothic Magic Castle, Roman International Art Exhibition Center and Baroque Art Museum. However, there are also ancient Chinese buildings in the north end of the campus! Temples modeled after Qing, Ming, and Tang dynastic styles bring Chinese style to this magical campus.
Study At Hebei Academy of Fine Arts
Previously, the Hebei Academy of Fine Arts did not have programs for international students. However, in 2018, the academy opened The School of International Education. It was established for Chinese-foreign collaboration as well as international students’ education and administration.
Study at the Hogwarts of China: take a Chinese Language, Art, or Summer program in Magic. We will help you get one step closer to your dream!
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