China’s respected Peking University will open a new campus with a focus on artificial intelligence and engineering, Xinhuanet has reported.

The new campus is set to occupy an area of nearly 4.15 million square metres (approximately 128 football fields) and will be located in Changping, a district situated in the suburbs of northwest Beijing.

Shuiping Qiu, the University’s Party Secretary, said “the construction and development of Changping Campus is strategically important for the development of Peking University in the new era. This is a major opportunity and important platform that will integrate the development of emerging industries and attract top talents from across the country and around the world.”

Synced previously reported on the Chinese Ministry of Education’s “AI Innovation Action Plan for Colleges and Universities,” which was issued to the education departments at all levels and institutions of higher education. The plan proposed the establishment of 50 AI faculties, research institutions, or interdisciplinary research centres.

Thus far, 34 Chinese elite universities have launched institutes for AI. This June, Tsinghua University opened a dedicated AI research centre, Tsinghua University Institute for Artificial Intelligence.