Zhejiang University

Qing Dynasty

In 1897, then-mayor of Hangzhou, Lin Qi (traditional Chinese: 林啟; simplified Chinese: 林启; pinyin: Lín Qǐ; Wade–Giles: Lin Ch'i) established the "Qiushi Academy/Ch'iu Shih Academy" (求是書院; 求是书院; Qiúshì Shūyuàn; Ch'iu-shih-shu-yüan).^[8] Lin studied the Western higher education system and applied it to the Qiushi Academy. The Ch'iu-shih Academy was renamed to Chekiang College (浙江大學堂; 浙江大学堂; Zhèjiāng Dàxuétáng) in 1902, and to Chekiang Higher Institutes in 1903.

A second institution that factored into the early history of Zhejiang University was Yuying Xuetang (Yuying School or Yuying College), established in 1902. This was renamed to Yuying Yishu (Yuying Public School), and then to Yuying Academy. In 1911, Yuying Academy became Zhijiang Xuetang (Zhijiang College) and moved to Qinwang Hill (秦望山), outside of Hangzhou.

1912–1937

In 1912, Zhejiang Medical School was established, later developing into Zhejiang Provincial Medical College and becoming part of Zhejiang University.

In 1927, some schools and colleges (e.g. industrial and agricultural colleges/schools) were merged into the Qiushi Academy. Then the name of the enlarged school was changed to "National Third Sun Zhongshan University" (or, National Third Sun Yat-sen University), after Sun Yat-sen. On April 1, 1928, it was renamed "Che Kiang University" (now Zhejiang University from the pinyin name), and in the same year, "National" was added and it became "National Che Kiang University" (國立浙江大學; 国立浙江大学; Guólì Zhèjiāng Dàxué).

War period, 1937–1949

Scientists working at ZJU during the war

In the latter half of 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and due to the invading Imperial Japanese Army, the university evacuated from Hangzhou to Guizhou until 1946, after the war ended.

Reputed as "Cambridge of the East" by Joseph Needham (twice visited ZJU in 1944) in China's modern history of higher education, National Che Kiang University's was consistently ranked as among top 3 in the nation during that time.

During this period, the National Che Kiang University was praised as one of the Four most Prominent Universities in the Republic China (民國四大名校), along with National Central University, National Southwestern Associated University, and National Wuhan University.

1952–1998

Zhejiang University was split up into a number of single-discipline colleges during the 1952 readjustment of China's Tertiary Education System. Its schools of arts and sciences either went to former Hangzhou University or joined with Fudan University. Its medical and pharmaceutical schools formed Zhejiang Medical University. Its agricultural and horticultural schools went to establish Zhejiang Agricultural University.

1952~1953, Its chemical engineering departments, and some the other technological parts went to former Hangzhou Chemical Engineering School (now Zhejiang University of Technology, ZJUT). And the dean Li Shouheng, who was one of the main founders of China's modern chemical engineering, was pointed to be the first president of ZJUT.

After 1998

In 1998, with the approval of the State Council, the new Zhejiang University was established as a combination of four major universities that had grown up in Hangzhou over the previous half-century, namely Zhejiang University, Hangzhou University, Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang Medical University.

On September 21, 2006, Chinese billionaires Duan Yongping (Zhejiang University alumnus) and Ding Lei (Zhejiang native) donated together a one-time endowment of 40 million US dollars to Zhejiang University. 30 million USD was from Duan with 10 million from Ding. It was the largest private one-off endowment to a university in Mainland China.^[9] A ceremony was held at the newly founded Zijin'gang Campus to receive the donation.^[10]

Faculty

Among its approximate 3,100 standing faculty ^[11] members, more than 1,200 faculty members hold the title of professor. The faculty includes: 14 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 13 members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 48 scholars in the national Recruitment Program of Global Experts, 20 chief scientists of national 973 projects, 81 Changjiang (Yangtze River) Award winners, and 88 recipients of the awards from the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Zhejiang University also has some prominent foreigners, who joined its rank as faculty. This include Nobel Laureate Michael Levitt, who joined Zhejiang University Department of Chemistry in 2018.^[12]

Student body

At present, there are a total of 45,678 full-time students enrolled at Zhejiang University, including 22,376 graduate students, 8577 Ph.D candidates, and 23,302 undergraduates. In addition, there are 3,407 international students currently attending Zhejiang University.

Rankings

Zhejiang University is consistently ranked among China's top universities.^[13][14]

Yuquan Campus

The main campus of engineering. It was the main campus of Zhejiang University until Zijin'gang Campus was built in 2002.

Xixi Campus

The campus of arts and sciences. It was previously Hangzhou University before its merge into Zhejiang University in 1998.

Haining International Campus

This new campus (simplified Chinese: 海宁国际校区; traditional Chinese: 海寧國際校區) is located in the Zhejiang city of Haining.^[21] Clusters of international cooperative partners and institutions reside on this site, which opened in 2016 as part of Zhejiang University. The Haining International Campus is home to the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute.

Huajiachi Campus

The campus of agriculture. It was previously Zhejiang Agricultural University before it's merged into Zhejiang University, and also where the old Huajiachi Campus of "National Che Kiang University" located. This campus has been the oldest one of Zhejiang University.

A part of it has already been sold, and the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology and the College of Animal Sciences have moved to Zijin'gang Campus.

Zhijiang Campus

The old campus of mathematics and related theoretical sciences, at present the main part of which is Guanghua Law School. It was the campus of Zhijiang University before 1952.

Zijin'gang Campus

New and the biggest campus, the headquarters, campus of medical school, located in the northwest of Hangzhou. Most of the first year and second year undergraduate students live in this campus.

Zhoushan Campus

This new campus (舟山校区; 舟山校區) opened in 2015, and serves as the campus of the Ocean College, and is located in the Zhejiang city of Zhoushan.^[22]

Affiliated institutes

• Zhejiang California International NanoSystems Institute (ZCNI)
• Center of Mathematical Sciences, Zhejiang University
• Research Institute of Zhejiang University-Taizhou
• China Academy of West Region Development
• Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University
• Zhejiang University Innovation institute(ZII), international
• Social Science Experiment Center of Zhejiang University
• Life Science Institute, Zhejiang University
• Institute of Environment Pollution Control and Treatment, Zhejiang University
• Academy of Financial Research, Zhejiang University
• Ocean Research Center of Zhoushan, Zhejiang University
• International Design Institute, Zhejiang University
• Academy of Global Zhejiang Entrepreneurs, Zhejiang University
• Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University
• Public Policy Research Institute of Zhejiang University
• Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University
• Zhejiang University Institute for Advanced Study in Humanities and Social Sciences
• Center for Correlated Matter(CCM), Zhejiang University
• Research Center of Public Service and Performance Evaluation, Zhejiang University
• Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation (IFTS), Zhejiang University

Affiliated hospitals

Zhejiang University has seven affiliated hospitals

1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
2. The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
3. Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (donated by Sir Run Run Shaw)
4. The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
5. The Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
6. The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
7. Zhejiang Stomatology Hospital (also named Zhejiang University Affiliated Stomatology Hospital)

Affiliated colleges

• Zhejiang University City College (Hangzhou)
• Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University (Ningbo)

Others

• High-tech park of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou
• High-tech park of Zhejiang University in Ningbo
• Botanical Garden of Zhejiang University

Anniversary

May 21 is the Home-coming Day (Chinese: 校庆) of Zhejiang University. May 21, 2017 was the 120th anniversary.

Dec 31 is the Student Day (Chinese: 学生节) of Zhejiang University.

Alma mater (university anthem)

The only version of Zhejiang University Anthem is in Classical Chinese. The English translation of the words of the Zhejiang University Anthem is as follows:^[24]

The vast sea contains all streams, all rivers;

Great learning connects Heaven and Earth.

Metaphysical is Tao; instrumental is Tool.

Rites tell people apart; Music gets them together.

To know their relations would make us ever brighter.

There's a national university standing by River Qiantang,

Whose eternal philosophy is seeking truth from facts.

Progressive education can produce those able to govern;

Never say you know the essence, let alone the truth.

Reform is necessary, and renewal is a must;

To be a vanguard is to be both creative and innovative;

Dear young vanguards should be clear of the principles.

Be devoted to study, deep in thinking and good in understanding;

We offer arts, science, agriculture, technology, and beyond;

It needs you to know them all – their origins and applications.

To become successful people will be like true gold to be made;

To give up fractional views we’re of far sight and broad mind;

To rejuvenate our great nation is to harmonize the whole world.

Notable alumni

See List of Zhejiang University alumni