Return to ‘Hogwarts’ by snapping pics of this Chinese fine arts university

“Ni men hui qu Huògéhuáz?,” or "Welcome to Hogwarts," the facade of a fine arts university in China seemingly greets all who behold its clock tower and crenellations.

 

GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" featured a castle-like university on Thursday, saying the unique spires and brickwork inspired the Hebei school's nickname of "Hogwarts of the East".

 

But according to The Malay Mail Online, the university had everything to do with an appreciation of classical architecture absolutely nothing to do with the mystical Scotland-based school.
 

School principal Zhen Zhongyi insisted he had no knowledge of the Harry Potter series before netizens started linking the Hebei University of Fine Arts to the series' magical castle. 

 

Even after viewing the films, the headmaster maintains that "there's no connection whatsoever" between Hogwarts and the school, which will soon feature an art gallery with five helipads instead of moving staircases.

 

An article by the Huffington Post last December also pointed out the extraordinary similarities between the structures and wrote that it referenced the styles of European gothic architecture.
 

The buildings itself were completed in December 2014. It had cost 400 million yuan ($64 million) to build and was designed by Zhen and his faculty. It is part of the plan to expand the campus with different styles of architecture. — Rie Takumi/VC, GMA News