1In the spring of 990, Mr. Yao Meiliang, Chairman of Malaysian-born Yong Fang Group, decided to set up the Modern China Research Center of Sun Yat-sen University in order to promote Chinese culture and commemorate modern sages. CUHK leaders attached great importance to it and designated the current site of Yongfangtang to build a modern China Research Center building. And set up a preparatory office with vice president Zhu Chaoxin as the director;

On February 28th 199 1, the preparatory office began to collect architectural design schemes in World Architecture magazine; Finally, the second prize 1, the third prize 2, the excellent work 5 and the encouragement prize 10 were awarded, but the first prize was not awarded. Under the recommendation of authoritative architects in the architectural field, school leaders and Mr. Yao Meiliang unanimously agreed that Yongfangtang decided to adopt the second prize design scheme of this review. The authors are Meng Jianmin, Cao Bin and Zhang Hong from the School of Architecture of Southeast University, and Chen Ning from the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Southeast University. The creativity of the four designers is that the outside of Yong Fang Hall is circular, and its spreading wings symbolize the opening of the country. The outdoor 60 steps leading directly to the main hall on the third floor symbolize the development and progress of the country.

The naming of the Modern China Research Center Building was established after the main project of the building was completed and Mr. Yao Meiliang was hired by the leaders of CUHK. Yao Meiliang's late father, Yao Yongfang, was a justice of the peace and a local overseas Chinese leader in Malaysia at the age of 67. In memory of Mr Yao, the building of modern China Research Center was named "Yongfangtang".

After the completion of Yongfangtang, Mr. Yao Meiliang proposed to CUHK leaders to donate 65,438+0,000 yuan to build the bronze statue square of eighteen sages, arranged on both sides in historical order. These two bronze statues, headed by Lin Zexu and Hong Xiuquan respectively, followed by Sun Yat-sen and Huang Xing, are independent and integrated with Yongfangtang. Their purpose is to commemorate and carry forward the contributions made by the Chinese nation and its outstanding sons and daughters to safeguarding national dignity and national independence in modern China for a century and a half. It has added a beautiful scenery to CUHK and become a patriotic education base. In the last two years, students and tourists from all over the world have been visiting it.