Born in 1854, Yan was a scholar known for advocating western learning in the late 19th century in China. He was the first to translate British naturalist Charles R. Darwin's On the Origin of Species into the Chinese language.

Yan translated Thomas H. Huxley's Evolution and Ethics, which yielded much influence on the thinking of contemporary scholars at that time.

Yan studied in a British naval university and became the principal of China's naval school of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) on his return. He later was appointed the first president of the prestigious Peking University.

Yan's residence was built in 1867, covering a total area of 625 square meters. The one-year renovation project cost one million yuan (US$120,000), and Yan's pictures, documents and books will be displayed in two halls that have been completed.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2002)