A ceremony was held to mark the opening of the festival which was officiated by Cai Suiang, daughter of Cai Yuanpei and a number of guests from the university.

Cai Suiang said she hopes visitors of the festival would be able to share her father's vision in education and know more about the efforts he put into it.

Cai Yuanpei was the founder of modern education in China. As the former principal of the Peking University, Cai had led the university to become the birthplace of China's new culture movement.

The week-long Festival, organized by one of the university's student residence Halls, will include an exhibition, a bilingual drama about Cai and his contribution to the momentous May Fourth Movement in 1919 that paved the way for cultural changes in modern China and a seminar.

The exhibition, to be opened to the public, will feature the life and education philosophy of Cai. A selection of books and invaluable manuscripts, photographs and memorabilia will also be on display.