Is this the Zhejiang University where you once pursued your studies? (Ⅰ)

Have you ever beheld the moon’s radiant dance under the summer night sky at Puci Temple? Do memories of clear, resounding reading voices linger in your mind in Meicheng of Jiande City? Whose aspirations were solidified in the library in Taihe, Jiangxi Province? How many youthful dreams have been awakened by the waters of the swimming pool on the east side of the Xiangjiang River?

Flipping through the pages of history, across the vast and nurturing bosom of our motherland, those erstwhile campuses of Zhejiang University sparkle like a constellation of stars — each place a testament to the university’s blossoming journey, shining with a brilliance that pierces the sky.  

A national university stands majestically by River Qiantang. On the occasion of the 127th founding anniversary, Zhejiang University hosts a grand exhibition of its campuses, showcasing the tapestry of its century-spanning odyssey and inviting faculty, students, and alumni to traverse once more the arduous yet unswerving path of its glorious past.

This is Part 1 of a two-part stories about the history of Zhejiang University's campuses. 

Blaze new trails in education

(1897-1927)

In 1897, amidst a tide of progressive reforms in the late Qing Dynasty, Qiushi Academy — the precursor to Zhejiang University — was established. With “Diligence and Integrity as its guiding principle, it embarked on its mission to rescue the nation through the power of education and to revitalize the country with the cultivation of talent. This heralded the dawn of a cultural legacy that would resonate through the corridors of Zhejiang University for over a century.

On May 21, 1897, Qiushi Academy officially commenced its academic journey, welcoming its first cohort of 30 students. LIN Qi, the then governor of Hangzhou, took on the mantle of the director-in-chief of the academy. Nestled near the serene Puci Temple, the original site of Qiushi Academy consisted of eastern and western dormitories, which were later expanded by the addition of both internal and external courtyards.

On November 26, 1910, ZENG Yun, the governor of Zhejiang, laid the ground work for Zhejiang Industrial School. The school, situated on Puchang Lane, in the shadow of the historic Baoguo Temple in Hangzhou, officially opened its doors on March 27, 1911. It earned its stripes as Zhejiang Public Industrial School in 1920.

Earlier on March 3, 1910, ZENG Yun proposed the establishment of an advanced agricultural school and a training institute for agricultural educators. By September of that year, this vision took shape with the founding of the Training Institute for Agricultural Educators. In April 1913, it relocated to a brand-new facility in Jianqiao, Hangzhou, and was elevated to Zhejiang Public Agricultural School in 1924.

Unveil an ambitious blueprint

(1927-1949)

In July 1927, against the backdrop of the “university district system,” the institution, initially known as No. 3 Sun Yat-sen University, came into being. In may, 1928, it adopted a new identity as National Zhejiang University. From its inception, National Zhejiang University achieved remarkable successes across a spectrum of areas, setting the stage for the evolution of a modern university framework.

In 1928, the visionary groundwork was laid for the establishment of the College of Arts and Sciences. Situated within the historical precincts of the original Qiushi Academy, the institution dedicated itself to the restoration of aged structures, complemented by the careful addition of a select few new buildings.

The College of Engineering evolved from its predecessor — Zhejiang Public Industrial School, inheriting its legacy in the same premises. It expanded its resources by constructing new classrooms, practice workshops, and dormitories and further enriching campus infrastructure with landmarks like Qiushi Bridge and Qiushi Road.

The College of Labor and Agriculture, originally Zhejiang Public Agricultural School, was transformed into the College of Agriculture in 1929. In August 1934, the Agricultural Hall was completed, and the College of Agriculture subsequently moved to Huajiachi Campus, ceding its previous Jianqiao site to the Central China Aviation School.

With the drumbeats of war echoing closer to Hangzhou in September 1937, Zhejiang University decided to sought sanctuary, renting the Chanyuan Monastery nestled in West Tianmu Mountain for educational purposes. Freshmen were relocated to Chanyuan Monastery. President CHU Kochen, along with SHU Hong, a professor in physical education, and PAN Chingqi, the director responsible for the freshmen, inspected the situation at the monastery.

In November 1937, Japanese troops made their landing at Quangongting, close to Hangzhou, forcing the Zhejiang University community to undertake a phased relocation to Meicheng of Jiande City, which was transformed, albeit temporarily, into a makeshift ‘university city’ southwest of Hangzhou.

By December 1937, Hangzhou had succumbed to occupation. This dire situation entailed a further exodus for the Zhejiang University community, who reached Ji’an, Jiangxi Province in January of the following year. Faculty and staff stayed in the local rural normal school, while families rented local houses, and students took up quarters in Ji’an Middle School located on Bailuzhou Island.

The odyssey persisted on February 18, 1938, when the Zhejiang University community moved yet again, this time from the banks of the Gan River and along the Guangdong National Road to Taihe, Jiangxi Province. This temporary campus was located in Shangtian Village, about 2.5 kilometers west of Taihe City. Dayuan Academy, Huayang Academy, Xiao’s Ancestral Hall, along with other notable sites like Quyuan Garden and Xiaguan Tower (known as the library) all served as provisional campuses for Zhejiang University.

In late July 1938, Japanese forces overtook Jiujiang, prompting yet another relocation for Zhejiang University, this time to the more remote Yishan in Guangxi. By the end of October, all the faculty, staff, and students had safely arrived in Yishan (except for materials such as books and instruments that were still in transit). Classes resumed on November 1.

In November 1939, when Nanning fell, Zhejiang University decided to move to Zunyi and Meitan in Guizhou. By January 1940, the Zhejiang University community had settled in Zunyi. The primary administrative office was established in Zidanku (so called because it used to be an ammunition depot), the library was housed in the Jiang’s Ancestral Hall, and a swimming pool was built on the east side of the Xiangjiang River.

In the downtown of Meitan County, 75 kilometers east of Zunyi, Zhejiang University erected educational buildings for the Department of Plant Pathology and Entomology and the Department of Physics. Additionally, spanning over 200 mu of land outside the town, the Zhejiang University Farm took shape, and the original Meitan Middle School was expanded and elevated to Zhejiang University High School.

Zhejiang University adapted the local “Jiang Pavilion” and “Chu Pavilion”, 15 kilometers from the downtown of Meitan County into a stimulating academic environment for freshmen. The first batch commenced their registration at Yongxing on October 18. The original campus for freshmen at Qingyan wrapped its operation in mid-October, 1940, with more than 400 students walking to Zunyi.

After Zhejiang University’s westward relocation, due to transportation or economic challenges, an increasing number of people were unable to go to inland universities for further education. In response to this demand, Zhejiang University established the East Zhejiang Campus in Longquan, Zhejiang Province, in July 1929. It was later renamed Longquan Campus, nestled in the Zeng family’s residence in Fangxia Village.

In August 1945, with Japan’s unconditional surrender, Zhejiang University was finally granted the long-awaited opportunity to restore and restructure the Hangzhou campus. It undertook the construction of facilities, including gyms, swimming pools, and the architectural trio of Houji, Shennong, and Leizu buildings, complemented by an affiliated greenhouse, Western Building, and dormitories, all poised gracefully to the south of Huajiachi.