Interpreting the classics Share CLOSE Xu Yuanchong, prominent translator and professor of Peking University, holds the newly published collection of his diaries kept in the National Southwestern Associated University, at his home in Beijing in February. [Photo provided to China Daily] For more than six decades, centenarian Xu Yuanchong has applied his linguistic skills in Chinese, English and French to build literary bridges between the East and West, Yang Yang reports. On April 18, prominent translator and professor of Peking University, Xu Yuanchong, celebrated his 100th birthday. For decades, through translation, Xu has introduced not only French and English masterpieces into China, but also Chinese classical literature to the world in French and English.