Jimei School Village: The "Tan Kah Kee Story" Behind The Century-Old Buildings

XIAMEN, China, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The year 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, a renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader, entrepreneur, educator, philanthropist, and social activist.

130 years ago, at the age of just 20, Tan Kah Kee invested 2,000 silver dollars to establish the "Ti Zhai Academy" in his hometown of Jimei. This marked the beginning of his 67-year career in education. He also constructed numerous large-scale school buildings, leaving behind a legacy of distinctive Kah Kee structures. Over the ensuing years, he dedicated all his resources to founding a variety of educational institutions, including elementary schools, middle schools, normal schools, kindergartens, fishery and navigation schools, and business schools in Jimei. These century-old buildings now form the most beautiful scenery in Jimei School Village.