Why Is Lanzhou University Known as China's Most Chivalrous Higher Education Institution?
▲ Lanzhou University Chengguan Campus Library, Jishi Hall. Photo by Chen Hao
The mighty Yellow River flows, the lush Lanzhou Mountains stand tall, with the Loess Plateau, Inner Mongolia Plateau, and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau converging around. The Silk Road stretches westward, connecting the world—this is Lanzhou. It is in this uniquely vast "Golden City" that the magnificent Lanzhou University is situated.
▲ Distant view of Lanzhou University Chengguan Campus. Photo by Lanzhou University
Founded in 1909 with a 111-year history, it is the first modern university in the Northwest region, renowned for its prolific academic achievements, known as the "Lanzhou University Phenomenon." With 19 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, it is a hub of talent. Lanzhou University can be called the "Unassuming Master" among the "Double First-Class" universities.
▲ Lanzhou University History Museum—how many legendary tales are hidden inside? Photo by Lanzhou University
Between Mountains and Rivers, a Campus of Legends
By the banks of the Yellow River and at the foot of Cuiying Mountain lie Lanzhou University's two campuses—Chengguan Campus and Yuzhong Campus. In every brick and rock, the majestic spirit of Lanzhou University is embodied.
▲ Lanzhou University Chengguan Campus. Photo by Lanzhou University
Lanzhou University is perhaps the closest university to the Yellow River, having become an integral part of Lanzhou's history and culture—a symbol. The university library "Jishi Hall," featured on the school emblem, is one of the four major landmarks of old Lanzhou (the others being Lanzhou White Pagoda, Yellow River Iron Bridge, and Lanzhou Hotel).
▲ Lanzhou University Chengguan Campus Library, Jishi Hall. Photo by Chen Liangming
Although named "Jishi," the hall draws its spirit from the timeless Yellow River, the spiritual home of Lanzhou University people. According to Professor Gu Jiegang's "Record of Lanzhou University’s Jishi Hall," the name originates from Yu the Great’s dredging of the Yellow River, "leading the river from Jishi," with Jishi Mountain being the source of the Yellow River. Beyond reminding one to remember their origins, it symbolizes that the source of true knowledge for scholars lies in the library.
During the National Lanzhou University period, on the original site of Cuiying Gate, four of the tallest buildings in Lanzhou at the time stood in a row: Tianshan Hall, Kunlun Hall, Helan Hall, and Qilian Hall. Their names were drawn from famous northwestern mountains, chosen by former President Xin Shuzhi to broaden students' horizons. Although the original buildings did not survive, these names live on through Lanzhou University’s teaching buildings, laboratories, and libraries. As President Xin said, naming buildings after mountains signifies that "learning is like climbing a mountain: only simplicity endures, and only steadfastness adapts to change."
▲ Tianshan Hall, Kunlun Hall, Helan Hall, Qilian Hall. Photo by Lanzhou University
In the 1990s, Lanzhou University built a new branch, naming its teaching office building after Mount Heng, one of the Five Great Mountains. Along the periphery of the Chengguan Campus, three tall buildings stand in sequence: Guanyun Tower, Qiyun Tower, and Feiyun Tower. Their names are inspired by the verse "In the northwest stands a tall tower, reaching level with the floating clouds," continuing this sentiment. Though a youthful campus, it hides a grand romance between heaven and earth. Students shuttle daily between these chivalrously named buildings, evoking a heroic spirit akin to wandering the martial world.
▲ Campus scenery of Lanzhou University in different seasons. Photo by Lanzhou University
But what Lanzhou University students are more familiar with is the Yuzhong Campus at the foot of Cuiying Mountain. New students arrive from all corners of the country and are greeted by a vast expanse between the mountains—a closer look reveals vitality and a hidden world.
▲ Aerial view of Yuzhong Campus. Photo by Lanzhou University
The mountain is named Cuiying Mountain, originally called White Tiger Mountain, located due west of Yuzhong Campus. It is often mistakenly referred to as "Cuìyīng," reflecting Lanzhou University people’s longing for green vitality. Today, patches of green grace the mountain, and it is no longer desolate.
For Lanzhou University couples, climbing Cuiying Mountain is a必修课 (required course). Ascending the云梯 (cloud ladder) to the summit, gazing up at the brilliant stars and down at the campus lights, holding hands while looking out at the vastness—it gives them the strength to envision a flourishing future. Lanzhou University people have also integrated activities like mountain climbing, camping, and tree planting into their daily lives. Each time they climb and look into the distance, with clear skies and expansive views, their hearts swell with passion.
▲ On Cuiying Mountain, the scenery is splendid. Photo by Lanzhou University
The Yuzhong Campus, far from the hustle and bustle of Lanzhou city, offers a tranquil environment ideal for studying. Among its facilities, the Kunlun Hall—the library of Yuzhong Campus—is a gathering place for top students and a hub of activity, arguably the most lively spot on campus.
▲ Kunlun Hall surrounded by a sea of flowers. Photo / Lanzhou University
During final exam periods, diligent early birds begin queuing in front of Kunlun Hall as early as 5 a.m., becoming the enviable first entrants. The line of students can stretch up to 500 meters. In contrast to this bustling scene, the lazy feline "masters" of the hall stroll around with an air of superiority, looking down on students who offer them food as if saying, "Leave the fish snacks and go study!"
▲ Library of Lanzhou University’s Yuzhong Campus. Photo / Lanzhou University
As the saying goes, "No mountain shades can block the view; under the bright moon, it’s perfect for reading." Lanzhou University is a fertile ground for academic growth.
▲ A campus cat of Lanzhou University, watching over the students. Photo / Lanzhou University
How has Lanzhou University maintained its "unique" status in China?
The 111-year history of Lanzhou University is the best illustration of its motto: "Strive for self-improvement, and stand out with uniqueness." Resilience and grandeur define its character, while romance and determination flow through its veins.
▲ Inscription of Lanzhou University’s motto on a stone. Photo / Lanzhou University
In 1909, the Gansu Official Law and Politics School, a modern-style institution, was established, which became the predecessor of Lanzhou University.
▲ Memorial pillar of National Lanzhou University at the Alumni Square of Chengguan Campus, with the alumni wall in the background. Photo / Wang Yao
During the War of Resistance Against Japan, despite Lanzhou’s remote northwestern location, the patriotic fervor of young students remained undiminished. They yearned to contribute to their country, and in 1938, the "Gansu College Anthem" was composed, resonating across the northwest. It remains the school anthem of Lanzhou University to this day.
▲ Sheet music of Lanzhou University’s school anthem. Photo / Lanzhou University
Students marched out of Tongguan to join the military effort. However, as a strategic rear area, Lanzhou endured continuous bombings by Japanese forces, which is one reason why few buildings over 70 years old remain at Lanzhou University today. Yet, as Mr. Gu Jiegang wrote in his "Inscription on the Kunlun Hall of Lanzhou University": "It must be understood that buildings can be destroyed, but the spirit of persevering against all odds is eternal."
In 1945, National Lanzhou University, the highest institution of learning in the northwest, was established. Xin Shuzhi, then president of the Hunan Provincial Education Association, became its president and shouldered the重任 of rebuilding the university from the postwar ruins. Given the weak educational foundation in the northwest, President Xin focused on constructing campus buildings and inviting renowned scholars. It was said that "President Xin had three treasures for running the university: books, instruments, and Gu Jiegang." He invited a group of famous professors, including Gu Jiegang, gathering a remarkable cohort of scholars and enhancing the university’s reputation.
Xin Shuzhi also extensively acquired books and instruments, collecting over 100,000 ancient and modern volumes, particularly rich in literature and history, which Gu Jiegang praised as "an exceptional collection in the northwest." The university motto, "Strive for self-improvement, and stand out with uniqueness," is derived from President Xin Shuzhi’s name.
After the liberation of Lanzhou, National Lanzhou University was renamed Lanzhou University and progressed alongside New China’s development of the northwest. In 1953, it became one of the 14 comprehensive universities directly under the Higher Education Ministry. Inspired by the simple aspiration to "contribute to the motherland," overseas returnees and faculty and students from Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, and other institutions flocked to the northwest, ushering in Lanzhou University’s first "golden age of shining stars":
▲ Top: Statue of Jiang Longji, former president of Lanzhou University. Bottom: Exhibition at the Lanzhou University History Museum. Photo / Lanzhou University
Among them were Professor Zhu Ziqing, who moved with his family from Fudan University to the northwest and was a pioneer of organic chemistry in China, and Professor Liu Youcheng, who returned from abroad; Professor Xu Gong'ou, who established one of China’s earliest nuclear physics programs; Academician Li Jijun, who dreamed of "riding a white horse through the remote valleys of the Qilian Mountains to prospect for the motherland"; Professor Duan Yishi, whose work on gauge field theory in such a remote location amazed Yang Zhenning; and President Jiang Longji, who stabilized the university during the tumultuous years of famine and laid the academic foundation. Many of Lanzhou University’s flagship programs today originated from the resilient efforts of that generation.
▲ Academician Li Jijun engaging in academic exchange with graduate students. Photo / Lanzhou University
"Three Geoscientists Traverse the Earth's Three Poles" further demonstrates Lanzhou University's spirit of scaling the heights. On March 3, 1990, alumnus Qin Dahe, as the only Chinese member of the "International Trans-Antarctic Expedition," trekked across the Antarctic continent, collecting precious samples and filling gaps in glaciology research. Meanwhile, Qin Dahe's mentor, the renowned physical geographer and geomorphologist, Academician Li Jijun, nearly simultaneously completed systematic research on the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.
▲ Top: In 1981, Qin Dahe on an expedition on the Western Sichuan Plateau. Bottom: In 1990, Qin Dahe (holding the microphone) and members of the Antarctic expedition team giving a report.
Qin Dahe's story inspired Xiao Cunde, then a student in the Geography Department at Lanzhou University, who gave up the opportunity for postgraduate recommendation at Lanzhou University and was admitted to the Glacier Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,如愿 becoming Qin Dahe's graduate student. Five years later, he became the first Chinese to reach the North Pole on foot. Thus, the Tibetan Plateau, known as the "Third Pole of the Earth," and the North and South Poles all bear the footprints of Lanzhou University people. These three generations of geographers from Lanzhou University can be seen as witnesses to the university's spirit of courageously scaling the scientific peaks.
The greatest of heroes are those who enrich China.
In the world of higher education, the legend of the "Lanzhou University Phenomenon" has long been circulating. In 1995, the journal *Science* selected China's thirteen most outstanding universities, with Lanzhou University ranking sixth. Over the past 20 years, the number of Lanzhou University alumni elected as members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and the Excellent Young Scientists Fund, has been among the highest of all Chinese universities. People often wonder: what kind of university is this, achieving such brilliant scientific research accomplishments with extremely limited resources?
The subsequent emergence of the "Eight Academicians from One Chemistry Discipline" and the "Lanzhou University Corps" in the Chinese Academy of Sciences further confirms that these "Lanzhou University Phenomena" are not isolated incidents.
▲ Jishi Hall and the fountain sculpture at the Chengguan Campus of Lanzhou University. Photo by Chen Liangming
The perseverance and dedication of its teachers and students have endowed Lanzhou University's distinctive courses with a character that integrates "Heaven, Earth, and Humanity." These include in-depth foundational studies in chemistry, nuclear science, and magnetism; broad explorations in geography and atmospheric science; the nationally unique grass science; and disciplines rooted in its unique geographical location, offering a grand vision of the "Belt and Road" initiative, such as Dunhuang studies, Central Asian studies, and Northwest ethnic minority studies...
Furthermore, the classrooms for Lanzhou University people have far transcended the campus. Today, the first lesson for freshmen is highly anticipated: students embark on a unique grand tour to witness the majestic landscapes of the Northwest. Whether it's the rich cultural and historical deposits of the Loess Plateau, the magnificent scenery of the Tibetan Plateau (the world's third pole), or the Silk Road along the Hexi Corridor... all are places for Lanzhou University people to explore and learn.
▲ Scientific expedition by Huang Jianping's team, scientific experiments by the Grass Science College, and Denisovan hominin expedition by Zhang Dongju's team. Images from Lanzhou University
The phrase most often spoken by the younger generation of Lanzhou University students is "Though our university is lean, it will enrich China." Even among the student clubs that most彰显 individuality, public welfare clubs account for almost half. From the Lanzhou University Green Team, which hopes for "clear waters in the Yellow River and green mountains on barren land," to the environmental protection club Lanzhou University Darwin Association... the backbone of Lanzhou University's clubs is rooted in the students' passionate sentiments.
▲ Activities of the Lanzhou University Green Team and Darwin Association clubs. Images from Lanzhou University
Beyond their national sentiment, the lives of Lanzhou University people are also vibrant and colorful. Eating at Lanzhou University means not only authentic Lanzhou beef noodles but also many网红 canteens like "Zhilan Yuan," "Dangui Yuan," and "Xinzhu Yuan," allowing students from all over the country to taste the flavors of their hometowns.
▲ Guess how much a bowl of beef noodles from Lanzhou University costs? Image from Lanzhou University
Graduates often recall in their midnight dreams the cherry blossoms fluttering everywhere in April at the Chengguan Campus, the tall and straight plane trees in the Medical School campus, and the graduates in academic gowns in front of Jishi Hall. Especially after a heavy snowfall, when the world is pure white, walking on the campus paths named after历代 Lanzhou University luminaries, one似乎 can hear the sound of time flowing and feel the grand stories passed down for a century.
▲ A corner of the sports ground and a snowy path on the Lanzhou University campus. Photo by Chen Liangming
Lanzhou University, which in its school song "discards romance," has instead attained a deeper and more far-reaching romance. In this most chivalrous university in the world, Lanzhou University people stand on厚重的 loess soil, under a vast and brilliant starry sky, with hearts filled with an indomitable youthful spirit.
▲ In front of Jishi Hall, the scenery is just right. Photo by Chen Liangming
Text by Huaijin (Lanzhou University Class of 2018 alumna) and Apple
Inscription on the Kunlun Hall Stele at Lanzhou University by Gu Jiegang
"Staying in the West, Striving for the Country: An Investigation into Lanzhou University's Establishment of a First-Class University in an Underdeveloped Region" Economic Daily
Long Xiu, Alumni of Lanzhou University Class of 2015
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