'旧址' literally combines '旧' (jiù), meaning 'old' or 'former', and '址' (zhǐ), meaning 'site' or 'location'. Together, it refers specifically to a place where something used to be—especially a historically significant building, institution, or facility that no longer functions there. It carries a neutral-to-formal register and is commonly used in historical, cultural, or urban planning contexts.

This term emphasizes continuity of location despite functional change: the physical site remains, but its original purpose has ended. You’ll often see it on plaques, in museum descriptions, or official documents—for example, marking where an old school, factory, revolutionary meeting place, or government office once stood. Unlike general terms like 'old place', '旧址' implies documented historical relevance and is rarely used for ordinary, non-notable locations.