History Museum of Yangzhou High School in Jiangsu Province

History Museum of Yangzhou High School in Jiangsu Province

Yangzhou High School in Jiangsu Province originated from Yidong Academy, established in 1902, and is a prestigious school with over 110 years of educational history. Shuren Hall, the school’s iconic building and a provincial-level cultural relic, has been converted into the History Museum of Yangzhou High School.

On the eve of the 110th anniversary celebration, the Yangzhou High School History Museum was grandly reopened following renovation and enhancement. The museum presents a fresh showcase of years of research, collection, and organization of the school’s history. The first floor serves as the introductory hall, the second floor houses the school history exhibition, while the third and fourth floors feature displays highlighting the achievements of alumni. It serves as a venue for imparting the school’s fine traditions and is also recognized as a Jiangsu Provincial Patriotic Education Base.

Since the reform and opening-up in the 1980s, the school established a history group that actively reached out to alumni and visited libraries across the country to rescue first-hand materials. For the 90th anniversary, based on original sources (including physical artifacts), the school clarified its origins with Yidong Academy as the starting point, created a school history timeline, summarized its educational characteristics, and established a “School History Exhibition Hall” richly endowed with exhibits. The plaque for the hall was inscribed by alumnus Wang Banzai, a renowned calligrapher and painter. The exhibition also displayed a handwritten inscription by Jiang Zemin for Yangzhou High School’s 90th anniversary: “Cherish the legacy of our predecessors, inspire future generations; carry on the past and open the way for the future, unite and strive forward,” as well as a long letter written in 1983 by [Comrade] to “Dear Jiangsu Yangzhou High School,” encouraging students to “be upright, aspiring, and eager for knowledge.” By the time of the centennial celebration, further supplements were made to the school history, and the museum was officially relocated from a single-story building into Shuren Hall. Prior to the 110th anniversary, the school established a History Research Office and compiled the Yangzhou High School History Materials Collection, including a preliminary volume (1 volume) and the main volume (7 volumes), totaling over five million characters. Building on this foundation, the history museum was further upgraded.

The establishment of the Yangzhou High School History Museum is of great significance. It not only records the glorious journey of the school’s century-long education but also reflects the historical outline of modern and contemporary basic education in Yangzhou and even across China. Furthermore, it highlights the profound cultural atmosphere and rich humanistic heritage of the ancient city of Yangzhou.