The Department of German Language and Literature at Peking University is the oldest and most tradition-rich program of its kind in China, having nurtured a remarkable group of erudite, profound, and dedicated scholars who have tirelessly pursued knowledge and contributed to the field through their writings and teachings. These scholars have authored influential works, mentored generations of students, and made significant contributions to the development of the German studies discipline at Peking University, as well as to the research and translation of German literature and culture in China.In the post-1949 era, the first generation of German faculty at Peking University, represented by Feng Zhi, Yang Yezhi, and Tian Dewang, laid the foundation for the discipline. The second generation, including Yan Baoyu, Fan Dacan, and Zhang Yushu, further advanced the field with their exceptional contributions. Through the efforts of several generations of scholars, the department has established a robust academic tradition rooted in philological research, literary history, and the study of canonical authors and works. Significant translations and research achievements span from the Middle Ages, Baroque, Enlightenment, Weimar Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Classical Modernism to contemporary literature. The department's faculty have authored acclaimed histories of German literature, founded international academic journals on German language, literature, and culture, and edited authoritative German dictionaries, earning widespread recognition from both domestic and international academic communities.

The department currently has 13 full-time faculty members, including 4 professors, 3 tenured associate professors, 1 associate professor, 1 assistant professor, and 4 lecturers, with 8 serving as doctoral supervisors. All faculty members hold doctoral degrees in German literature or linguistics from world-renowned universities. The undergraduate program spans four years, and the department offers master's and doctoral programs as well as a postdoctoral research station. Research areas include the study of German-speaking authors and their works, German literary history, German history and intellectual history, and German linguistics and language history.

Through the dedication and accumulated expertise of generations of faculty, the department has developed a comprehensive curriculum in German language, literature, and culture. Students consistently excel in professional examinations and competitions. The department employs long-term experts from Germany and Austria in its teaching staff and maintains ongoing collaborations with prestigious universities such as those in Berlin, Munich, and Heidelberg. It regularly invites internationally renowned scholars and writers to visit, providing students with rich international experiences and opportunities for study abroad.

Graduates of the department are distributed across government agencies, research institutions, higher education, and international trade, achieving remarkable success in their respective fields.