Lee Shau Kee, a benefactor of the Stanford Center at Peking University, passed away on March 17, 2025, at the age of 97. Through the Lee Shau Kee Foundation, Dr. Lee supported many educational initiatives around the world, including the Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU), which is administered by the faculty and staff of Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI).

Dr. Lee was a successful entrepreneur and business leader based in Hong Kong. He served as the chairman of many companies, including Henderson Land Development, which he founded in 1976.

Located on the Peking University campus, the SCPKU facility is a  3,400 square meter, tri-level center designed for the Stanford community located on its campus, providing collaborative spaces, offices and comprehensive support services to facilitate the work of scholars and programs.

Dr. Lee’s generosity also supported an endowed faculty directorship for SCPKU. Jean Oi, a professor of Chinese politics and senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, currently serves in this role.

The Stanford Center at Peking University opened in 2012, with the goal of helping Stanford faculty and students gain a better understanding of China through firsthand experience. The center brings Stanford faculty and students closer to their Chinese and other international counterparts by providing a unique space for cross-cultural engagement. Anyone in the Stanford community seeking to advance research or education by spending time in China is welcome to learn more about SCPKU’s programs.