The Site of Shanghai University

The Site of Shanghai University

The Site of Shanghai University is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Shanghai.

The Site of Shanghai University is located at Lane 309–317, Qingyun Road. Shanghai University was a higher education institution jointly established by the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang during the First United Front to train revolutionary cadres. In October 1922, after an incident at the former private Southeast Normal School of Shanghai, progressive students resolved to rename the school “Shanghai University,” inviting veteran KMT member Yu Youren to serve as president and CCP member Shao Lizi as vice president. They chose the former Jing’an area (originally Zhabei), Qingyun Lane (now Lane 309–317, Qingyun Road) as the original campus. At the time of its founding, Shanghai University was established amid efforts by both parties to form a revolutionary united front. A large number of communist theorists and social activists who had joined the KMT—including Qu Qiubai, Deng Zhongxia, Cai Hesen, Chen Wangdao, Yun Daiying, Xiao Chunü, and Zhang Tailei—served in faculty and administrative roles here. They worked tirelessly to reform the university’s operations, transforming it into an innovative revolutionary institution. The university underwent several relocations. In February 1924, the campus moved to No. 132, Siming Road, and Nos. 522–526, Shiyin Lane, Tong Road. In June of the same year, it was shut down by the Shanghai International Settlement authorities. That autumn, the school relocated to Shishoufang on Qingyun Road in Zhabei. On April 1, 1927, it moved to newly built facilities at Zhoujiazhai, Jiangwan Town. On April 12, 1927, Chiang Kai-shek launched an anti-communist coup, and the university was closed by KMT authorities in May of that year. Despite enduring great hardships and existing for just five years, Shanghai University made significant historical contributions. A popular saying at the time went, “For learning, there was Shanghai University; for military prowess, there was Whampoa.” The old Qingyun Lane campus was a traditional Shikumen building, a two-story brick-and-wood structure with about ten rooms, where the lane entrance served as the school gate, earning it the nickname “Lane University.” The original buildings were destroyed during the January 28 Incident in the Battle of Shanghai in 1932.

The Site of Shanghai University is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Shanghai.