Shanxi University is located in Taiyuan, which is the capital of Shanxi Province and boasts a history of 2,500 years. Its profound cultural heritage can be dated back to Sanli College in the Ming Dynasty and Jinyang College and Linde College in the Qing Dynasty. Shanxi University’s predecessor was Shanxi Grand School founded in 1902. In the early period, Shanxi Grand School promoted the integration of Chinese culture with Western cultures and also paid equal attention to arts and sciences. With great flexibility in managing the task of running a college and advanced educational ideas, the school was one of the most important cradles of Chinese higher education and a crucial institution for spreading culture, science, and education in Shanxi Province for over a hundred years. It went through the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945), several relocations during the War of Liberation (1945-1949) and the restructuring of universities and colleges in 1953. All the time the school has inherited the glorious tradition of “Knowing the East and the West; seeking goodness and truth; valuing the virtuous and the talented; strengthening oneself and serving the country” and promoted the school spirit of “being diligent, strict, honest and creative”. Shanxi University has cultivated excellent talents for the country and made an important contribution to the cause of educating people and revitalizing the nation.

   One hundred years’ talent fostering has started another splendid chapter in modern times. Since the policy of opening up and reform was introduced, Shanxi University has developed into a comprehensive university featuring the interpenetration of arts and sciences, the clear guidelines of running the school and the great potential for further development as emphasis is put on science and education to rejuvenate the nation and higher education is thus boomed. In 1998, Shanxi University became a key university sponsored by the People’s Government of Shanxi Province. In 2003, Shanxi University was graded excellent in the evaluation of undergraduate teaching work conducted by the Ministry of Education. Since the 100th anniversary of its foundation, Shanxi University has made great strides in all academic fields. In 2005, Shanxi University attained the opportunity of being co-developed by the State Ministry of Education and the People’s Government of Shanxi Province. In 2012, the university was listed as one of the universities in the national program under the name of “Promoting the comprehensive strength of colleges and universities in the mid-west regions of China”, thus embarking on a new state-funded platform to develop a high-level university of distinctive characteristics.The campus, covering a geographic area of 2,450 mu and a floor space of 1,100,000 square meters, has been awarded the titles of Green and Gardenlike University by the provincial government. With a collection of 3.232 million books (copies) and 2510 GB e-books in its library, Shanxi University provides teaching and

research instruments with a total value of more than 400 million yuan RMB. The campus consists of two parts. The northern part is characterized by elegant traditional

designs while the southern one boasts many stylish modern buildings. A deeply humanistic and serene atmosphere permeates the whole campus, which is suitable for

both studying and living.

   Shanxi University hosts a full range of disciplines. Eleven academic fields cover 83 undergraduate specialties and 17 undergraduate specialties for double-majors. At present, there are 3 academician workstations, 14 post-doctoral mobile research stations, 15 first grade doctoral degree conferring disciplines, 37 first grade master degree conferring disciplines and 16 professional master degree conferring disciplines. In addition, the university has 5 second grade doctoral degree conferring disciplines,13 second grade master degree conferring disciplines. Meanwhile, Shanxi University has independently set up 2 doctoral degree conferring cross disciplines and 2 master degree conferring cross disciplines. It has also set up 3 second grade doctoral degree conferring disciplines and 3 second grade master degree conferring disciplines which are not included in the discipline catalogue issued by the Ministry of Education. Moreover, Shanxi University has state key disciplines, state key laboratories, key laboratories designated by the Ministry of Education, key research bases in humanities and social sciences under the Ministry of Education and an engineering research center approved by the Ministry of Education, which have all laid a profound academic and scientific research foundation for the university. In recent years, there is a steady increase in the number of national projects, including 973 National Projects, 863 National Projects, the Projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Projects funded by the Social Science Foundation. Of these projects, sixteen won prizes, which include the National Prize for Natural Sciences, the National Prize for Technological Innovation, the National Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress, the Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Humanities and Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Educational Institutions awarded by the Ministry of Education, and the Prize for Natural Sciences awarded by the Ministry of Education.

   Shanxi University is staffed by high-quality academic lecturers and has attained remarkable achievements in cultivating talents. At present, Shanxi University has 1,907 full-time teachers, among whom 1,194 have obtained advanced academic titles. There are academicians from Chinese Academy of Sciences, national outstanding professional and technical talent, specially appointed professors and professional lecturers under the Yangtze River Scholar Program, state-level middle-aged experts with prominent contributions, winners of the National Foundation for Eminent Youths, national model teachers, leading teachers approved by the Ministry of Education and experts who enjoy special government allowances, who are nearly 100 in total. Moreover, the university hosts state-level innovative research groups, state-level teaching teams and the innovative research groups supported by the Ministry of Education. Three courses have been selected as state-level fine courses. Seven textbooks compiled by the academic staff from Shanxi University have been selected as state-level teaching materials funded by the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" and the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan”. Nine doctoral dissertations have won the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award or won the honor of being nominated. At present, there are 20,156 undergraduates and 6,382 graduates studying full time in this university. In recent years, the national competitions, namely the National Mathematical Contest in Modeling, "Challenge Cup" Competition of Extracurricular Science and Technology Work, Electronic Design Competition, Advertising Art Contest and the National English Competition, have witnessed 28 first prizes won by Shanxi University.

   Shanxi University has increasingly enlarged its international exchanges. It has established intercollegiate relationship with over 50 universities and institutions from the United States, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and other countries. In addition, Shanxi University has collaborated with the Yerevan State Linguistic University after V. "Brusov" of Armenia and the Pfeiffer University of the United States respectively and set up two Confucius Institutes. The establishment of these two Confucius Institutes has  provided more opportunities for both Chinese students to join in tertiary education abroad and international students to study in China.

   Having inherited 100-year-old glorious tradition and facing up to new opportunities and challenges, Shanxi University is now sparing no effort to overcome difficulties and upgrade its comprehensive strength in the hope of developing itself into an exemplary research-oriented university with remarkable regional