Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures traces its origins to the Spanish Language Program within the Department of Western Languages and Literatures at Peking University, established in 1960. In 1978, it introduced a master's program, followed by a doctoral program in 1999. In 2008, the Spanish Language Program was recognized as a distinctive program by the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal Government. In 2021, it was selected as a "National First-Class Undergraduate Program Construction Site." The department boasts an outstanding faculty, including three doctoral supervisors, and is the only Spanish language program in China to have two recipients of the Lu Xun Literary Award for Literary Translation. It holds a leading position in Spanish literary translation and research within the country. The faculty's research and teaching span various fields, including Spanish literature and culture, regional and country studies, linguistics, and translation studies. They have led and participated in numerous national and provincial-level research projects, producing a steady stream of academic papers, monographs, and translations. Additionally, faculty members have achieved numerous accolades in teaching competitions both within and outside the university.

Guided by advanced pedagogical principles in foreign languages and literatures, the department emphasizes foundational language training while fostering students' Spanish proficiency, cross-linguistic communication skills, and intercultural critical thinking. It cultivates foreign language talents with a strong sense of national identity and a global vision, equipping them to tell China's stories effectively. The innovative curriculum covers literature history and research, classical text reading, translation and literary translation, cultural studies, area studies, and linguistics, providing students with a comprehensive knowledge base. The department nurtures students' academic interests, unlocks their scholarly potential, and guides them in rigorous academic training. In recent years, both undergraduate and graduate students have actively participated in various research activities, winning awards at national academic forums.

The profound humanistic spirit, interdisciplinary training model, and exceptional general education at Peking University have significantly enhanced the comprehensive qualities of young scholars, offering them a broader platform for development. Graduates of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures enjoy bright and diverse career prospects, spanning fields such as diplomacy, law, finance, education, international politics, gaming and e-sports, and smart technology. Many also choose to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees at prestigious universities both in China and abroad.

The department places great emphasis on international collaboration, providing students with diverse global experiences. During their undergraduate and graduate studies, students have the opportunity to study abroad at renowned universities in Spanish-speaking countries. Faculty members maintain close academic exchanges with research institutions and journals in these countries and have established deep partnerships with the embassies of Spanish-speaking nations in China and the Cervantes Institute in Spain. In 2008, the department co-founded the Confucius Institute with the University of Granada in Spain, contributing to the global dissemination of Chinese culture.