From Qiushi Academy to a reunited university
Zhejiang University traces its origins to Qiushi Academy, founded in Hangzhou in 1897. It later became National Zhejiang University (1928). During the war years the university relocated westward—through Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Guizhou—before returning to Hangzhou after 1945.
In 1952, national faculty reorganisation reshaped Hangzhou’s higher-education map. In 1998, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou University, Zhejiang Agricultural University and Zhejiang Medical University merged again to form the present comprehensive university under the Ministry of Education, jointly supported with Zhejiang Province.
What ZJU looks like today
Institutional summaries commonly place ZJU among China’s C9, 985, 211 and Double First-Class universities. As of late 2025 reporting, ZJU describes roughly 70,900 full-time students, about 9,800 staff including thousands of faculty, seven campuses and library holdings of several million volumes. Treat headline statistics as contextual, not as a substitute for programme accreditation or admissions rules.
Seven campuses
- Zijingang — Primary administrative and teaching hub in northwest Hangzhou.
- Yuquan — Historic engineering campus near West Lake.
- Xixi — Former Hangzhou University site; humanities and education associations.
- Huajiachi — Agricultural university heritage campus.
- Zhijiang — Riverside campus linked with law and related teaching.
- Zhoushan — Island setting for Ocean College.
- Haining — International Campus (from 2016) hosting collaborative institutes.
For visitors and shortlists, start with the English campus guides on zju.edu.cn/english, then confirm the teaching site named in your programme catalogue.
How to use this overview
Use institutional history to understand ZJU’s breadth; use admissions catalogues to decide whether a concrete programme fits your language level, budget and timeline. Rankings and alumni lists do not replace entry requirements.
An orientation overview. Confirm current details with the university. Official source ↗