The exhibition entitled Everlasting Campus at Peking University last month shows different aspects of its campus life. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Looking up at the statue of Cai whose pedestal has a bouquet of flowers, the girl student has an ancient Chinese book in one hand. Cai represents the noble ideals of Peking University and China's higher education, said He Lingyun, an undergraduate student at the university's School of International Studies.

Cai advocated intellectual freedom and inclusion.

"Peking University is one of the most renowned universities in China, and has also been my dream school since young," Wang said.

"After I became its overseas visiting scholar, I felt much closer to it. When I look at scenes on campus, I have a shift from being a mere visitor to somebody taking a leisurely stroll on my own campus," he said.

Most of his 19 paintings on display are based on photos he took on campus. But they are not merely a reproduction of the photos.