- published: 06 Nov 2013
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Coordinates: 29°12′N 120°30′E / 29.2°N 120.5°E / 29.2; 120.5
Zhejiang (Chinese: 浙江; pinyin: Zhèjiāng; Wade–Giles: Che-chiang or Chekiang) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang (crooked river) was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital. The name of the province is often abbreviated to its first character, "浙".
Zhejiang borders Jiangsu province and Shanghai municipality to the north, Anhui province to the northwest, Jiangxi province to the west, and Fujian province to the south; to the east is the East China Sea, beyond which lie the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
The area of modern Zhejiang was outside the major sphere of influence of early Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty (sixteenth century to eleventh century BC). Instead, this area was populated by peoples collectively known as the Yue, such as the Dongyue and the Ouyue. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Yue emerged in northern Zhejiang. The Yue state was heavily influenced by the Chinese civilization further north. Under King Goujian of Yue, Yue reached its zenith and was able to wipe out the powerful state of Wu to its immediate north, in 473 BC. Then, in 333 BC, Yue was in turn conquered by the state of Chu, which was to the west. In 221 BC, the state of Qin completed the conquest of the last of the formerly independent states of China, including the state of Chu. This conquest made what is now Zhejiang part of a unified Chinese empire.
Coordinates: 30°15′49″N 120°07′15″E / 30.26361°N 120.12083°E / 30.26361; 120.12083
Zhejiang University (ZJU; simplified Chinese: 浙江大学; traditional Chinese: 浙江大學; pinyin: Zhèjiāng Dàxué; Wade–Giles: Che-chiang-ta-hsüeh), sometimes referred to as Zheda, is a national university in China. Founded in 1897, Zhejiang University is one of China's oldest institutions of higher education. It is a member of the C9 League. In 2011, Zhejiang University was named the best university in China by China University Rankings, surpassing Tsinghua University, which had been ranked first for 14 consecutive years. Zhejiang University ranks among the top 200 universities worldwide, and the top 30 in Asia.
Zhejiang University is located in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, approximately 112 miles (180 km) southwest of Shanghai. Zhejiang University Library collection contains about 6.9 million volumes, making it one of the largest academic libraries in the country.
In 1897, Lin Qi (simplified Chinese: 林启; traditional Chinese: 林啓; pinyin: Lín Qǐ; Wade–Giles: Lin Ch'i), the mayor of Hangzhou, established "Qiushi Academy" (simplified Chinese: 求是书院; traditional Chinese: 求是書院; pinyin: Qíushì Shūyuàn; Wade–Giles: Ch'iu-shih-shu-yüan). Lin studied the western higher education system and applied it to Qiushi Academy, which would become one of the earliest new schools in modern China history. 1902, Qiushi Academy was renamed as Zhejiang Academy (浙江大學堂/浙江大学堂). 1903, its name was changed to Zhejiang Advanced College, established by Hongcheng's wife, panpan. The "Yuying Academy" was also one of the Zhejiang University's early roots. Yuying Academy was established in 1902 with its original name "Yuying Xuetang" (Xuetang means school or college), later "Yuying Yishu" (Yishu means public school), and then the academy. 1911, Yuying Academy was modified to Zhijiang Xutang, and moved to the Qinwang Hill (秦望山), outside of Hangzhou.