Tsinghua University is a research university located in Beijing and one of the nine members in the C9 League of China. Founded in 1911, Tsinghua University is considered as one of the top academic institutions in China. The University’s motto is “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment” and its core values are “patriotism, innovation, integrity, excellence”. In recent years, Tsinghua has made great strides in improving its international reputation with rankings consistently among the world’s top 100 universities by major education publications like Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE).
The history of Tsinghua can be traced back to Qing Dynasty when the emperor Guangxu decided to modernize China. He sent more than 160 young students abroad for studies in science and technology with expenses covered by imperial treasury. One year later, these students started their journey home but were stranded in Japan by a change in political situation at home. To continue their education, they established Nanyang Public School (now known as Zhenjiang High School) with donations from local Chinese merchants. When they finally returned to Beijing after the outbreak of Boxer Rebellion, most of them were employed as government officials or faculty members of Peking University or other institutions of higher learning such as Tsung-Dao Lee’s alma mater Beiyang Technical Institute (北洋理工学院). However some became entrepreneurs and business leaders instead like Tsai Yuan-pei who later served as President of Peking University.
In order to meet the growing need for talents trained with new Western learning following reformations initiated by Empress Dowager Cixi since late 19th century, several new schools were founded including Peiyang Technological School which was later renamed Beiyang Technical Institute mentioned above and Imperial Capital Advanced College founded upon suggestion by Sheng Xuanhuai who also helped establish Mitsubishi Corporation earlier in his career. These two institutions along with many others eventually merged into today’s Tsinghua University during 1911 Revolution which overthrew Qing Dynasty and established Republic of China (ROC). The name “Tsinghua”, literally meaning “Cherry Blossom Mountain”, comes from an old campus legend about a couple who came here to admire cherry blossoms only to find all trees had been cut down for construction purpose; however instead of being upset they found happiness from simple pleasure spending time together on what eventually became site for main library building completed years later.
Tsinghua University has long been dedicated to serving country through educating patriotic talents for critical positions in different fields especially during times when nation needed it most such as wars against Japanese invasion or Cultural Revolution; indeed many alumni have become prominent figures including Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao whose terms saw dramatic economic growth transforming China into world’s second largest economy as well former premier Wen Jiabao often referred affectionately as “Old Wen” by Chinese people. While continuing tradition passed down over past century, recent years have seen increasing emphasis on internationalization efforts aimed at making Tsinghua truly global university; exchange programs now send large number students overseas while foreign faculty members come teach various courses offered at Tsinghua campuses located throughout Beijing including Haidian District where main campus resides providing state-of-the-art facilities housed within beautifully designed buildings blending traditional Chinese architectural style with modern elements reflecting country’s rapid development pace over past few decades exemplified no better than this leading institution higher learning.