History-Southwest Jiaotong University

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Historical Timeline of Southwest Jiaotong University

-1896

Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty approved of the Imperial Chinese Railway Administration establishing the Imperial Chinese Railway College at Shanhaiguan.

-1900

The College was compelled to shut down under the impact of the Boxer Rebellion Movement and the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance. In 1905, it was relocated to Tangshan and reopened there with the name of Tangshan Railway Institute.

-1906

With the introduction of the programme of mining, the Institute was renamed as Shanhaiguan College of Railway and Mining

-1908

It became Tangshan College of Railway and Mining.

-1912

When the Republic of China was founded, the College’s name was changed into Tangshan Railway Institute of the Ministry of Transport.

-1913

Pursuant to the Statutory Order by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Transport, the Institute was renamed as Tangshan School of Technology.

-1921

The Ministry of Transport restructured the schools and colleges under its administration and established Jiaotong University with three campuses located respectively in Beijing, Tangshan and Shanghai, and the former Tangshan School of Technology became the Tangshan Institute of Jiaotong University.

-1922

The Ministry of Transport reorganized Jiaotong University and the Tangshan Institute of Jiaotong University was changed into Tangshan University of the Ministry of Transport.

-1928

Pursuant to the Statutory Order by the Ministry of Transport, the University was renamed in February as Tangshan Jiaotong University, then in June the Second Jiaotong University, and in September Tangshan Civil Engineering Institute of Jiaotong University after the restructure of Jiaotong University by the Ministry of Transport.

-1931

It was renamed as Tangshan Engineering Institute of Jiaotong University.

-1937

The “Double Seven (Marco Polo Bridge) Incident” broke out in July, and the University’s campus was occupied by the Japanese army. In December, the teaching faculty and students resumed their classes in Xiangtan, Hunan Province.

-1938

According to the order issued by the Ministry of Education in March, Peiping Railway Management Institute of Jiaotong University was temporarily integrated into the University. In May, the University was relocated to Yangjiatan, Xiangxiang, Hunan Province. In November, Japanese army invaded Hunan, forcing the teaching faculty and students to move southward again.

-1939

In January, the teaching faculty and students arrived in Pingyue, Guizhou Province (today's Fuquan City) and restarted classes there.

-1942

In January, the Ministry of Education established the Guizhou Campus of National Jiaotong University with Tangshan Engineering Institute and Peiping Railway Management Institute as its subordinates.

-1944

In November when the Japanese army attacked Guizhou, the teaching faculty and students had to go into exile again.

-1945

In February, the faculty and students arrived in Bishan, Sichuan Province, where they resumed their classes. In August, the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan was won.

-1946

In August, following the order by the Ministry of Education, the university was renamed as the National Tangshan Engineering Institute and relocated to its original location in Tangshan.

-1949

In July, the Ministry of Railways of the Chinese People’s Revolutionary Military Commission took over the Institute and established Tangshan Engineering College of China Jiaotong University.

-1950

In August, the University was renamed as Tangshan Engineering College of Northern Jiaotong University after the founding of the People's Republic of China in October, 1949.

-1952

The schools and departments of the different colleges and universities all over the country were reorganized and restructured. The faculty and students at the programmes of Mining, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Water Conservancy and Communication were transferred to other universities, and the remaining part was renamed as Tangshan Railway Institute.

-1964

In September, the Ministry of Railways decided to relocate the University to Emei, Sichuan Province in light of the National Third-Front Construction Strategy issued by the CPC Central Committee.

-1972

The University was renamed as Southwest Jiaotong University.

-1988

The major part of the University was relocated to Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

On September 23, the 22^ndyear of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (October 29, 1896), Wang Wenshao, the Governor-General of Zhili Province (current Hebei Province) and Beiyang Minister, submitted a Memorial to Emperor Guangxu, pleading to establish a railway school. The Emperor personally replied in writing that “His Majesty was informed”, indicating his approval of the proposal. This is the official document testifying the founding of the University.

Milestones

1896 1900

1896

October 29, Wang Wenshao, the Governor-General of Zhili (Capital) Province (current Hebei Province) and Beiyang (Coastal Provinces of Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong) Minister, submitted to Guangxu, the Ninth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 ), the Memorial on the Increase in Rail Transport Rates for Collection of Funds for the Establishment of a Railway School, pleading to start a school of railway engineering at Shanhaiguan. This Memorial is the de facto “Birth Certificate” of SWJTU.

2019

July 2, the Faculty of Transportation Engineering was established at the University.

2018

At 9 a.m., October 24 , Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was officially opened to traffic. During the design and construction of this super-large cross-sea bridge, the University’s “Dream Team” participated in the whole implementation process of this “Mega Project” in the new era.

2018

June, the “Belt and Road” Railway International Talent Education Alliance (RTEA) sponsored by the University and Central South University was officially launched, and Tianyou Railway Institute of Southwest Jiaotong University was also established, marking SWJTU’s significant step towards laying out the global network of Chinese railway education.

2017

June 26, the new CRH, officially named as Fuxing (Rejuvenation) on June 25, was put into operation on the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway. Many research teams at the University had played a significant role in its research and development, and the CRH was complete with full intellectual property rights, representing the most advanced technical standard in the world.

2017

June 8, during the World Expo 2017 Astana, Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, to board the simulated cab of high-speed train developed by the University. The train driving simulation system for which the University has provided technical support is the first of its kind independently developed by China.

2016

November 21, the world’s first new energy sky train test line was successfully put into operation, and Dr. Zhai Wanming, Chief Professor of the University and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, served as its chief designer.

2016

May 6, with the core technologies provided by the University, Changsha Maglev Express, the first commercial demonstration line of medium and low speed maglev train with full intellectual property in China, was put into trial operation.

2015

October 30, SWJTU-Leeds Joint School, the first Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run school at the University, was inaugurated. David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, sent a letter of congratulation.

2013

January, Professor Chen Weirong and his team took the lead in the successful development of the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in China, making China the fifth country in possession of such technologies after the United States, Canada, etc.

2011

December, Professor Zhai Wanming was elected as academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2011

October 29, the test platform of CRH train, which runs at the highest speed in the world, was built at the University.

2010

October 28, the world’s first set of in-phase power supply device designed by Professor Li Qunzhan and his team was successfully put into trial operation at Meishan Traction Substation on the Chengdu-Kunming Railway. It was a major technological innovation in traction power supply of electric railway in China, marking China’s leading role in terms of the technology in the world.

2009

July, Professor Dai Hong’s research team successfully developed the world’s first mobile rail CNC air-pressure welding vehicle. As a product of internationally advanced level, it is China’s independent invention with full intellectual property rights. Former President Hu Jintao inspected this welding vehicle, talked cordially with Professor Dai Hong, and encouraged the researchers to keep on with the efforts.

2006

Starting from November, the University has been cooperating with Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway Co., Ltd in multiple fields. The University’s research teams and graduates have contributed immensely to the completion of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway and other high-speed railways afterwards, and to the formulation of a brilliant China-made brand name – Chinese High-Speed Railway.

2005

December, the University’s Science and Technology Park was designated as “National University Science and Technology Park” by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, which provides a supporting platform and services for the incubation of the University’s scientific and technological achievements and high-tech & new enterprises, cultivation of innovation and entrepreneurship talents, and collaboration among companies, universities and research institutes.

2001

February 26, the world’s first HTS maglev train “Century” developed by the University on December 1, 2000 was exhibited at the Achievement Exhibition for the 15th Anniversary of 863 Plan in Beijing. On the evening of March 1, former President Jiang Zemin paid a visit and took a ride on the train, praising the smooth riding experience.

1997

December, Professor Qian Qingquan was elected as academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering.

1996

January, the first manned maglev locomotive “Future” mounted on dual-maglev bogie and its test line developed by the University were evaluated by the Ministry of Railway, marking China’s leading role in key theories and technologies of the control over maglev stabilization. On September 10, 1997, former President Jiang Zemin and other officials visited the achievement exhibition entitled “The Brilliant Five Years” in Beijing Exhibition Center and inspected the locomotive “Future”.

1995

Professor Zhai Wanming was granted the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars, being the first winner of the fund in mechanical engineering nationwide and at the university.

1995

November, the University’s first national experiment platform, the State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, passed national level acceptance inspection. The building of this platform promoted the university’s progress into the rank of leading countries in basic research fields such as wheel/rail interaction, heavy load and safety.

1992

Professor Shen Zhiyun was elected as member (academician) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1994.

1990

The University hosted the first international academic conference, the 16th Annual Conference and Symposium of International Tunneling Association (ITA), with Professor Gao Quqing acting as the Vice Chairman of the conference. More than 500 domestic and international experts and scholars attended the conference. It was the first time for ITA to hold its annual conference in a developing country.

1989

April 13, “The Computer Programming for Train Marshalling” developed by the University was evaluated by the Ministry of Railway, which was certified to have reached international advanced standard. The successful completion of the Project marked the end of manual preparation of railway operating plan in China and also the new research stage for the automation of the whole railway transportation process.

1987

May 6, the tunneling of the Dayaoshan Tunnel, the first super-long and double-line electric railway tunnel, was successfully completed with the participation of the faculty, students and alumni of the University, which marked China’s ranking among the leading countries in the field of tunnel and underground engineering technology.

1986

Professor Qian Qingquan’s research team developed the first set of multi-microcomputer tele-control device for electric railways in China, which was later applied to railways such as Datong-Qinhuangdao Railway and Lanzhou-Wuwei Railway, and they were also awarded the contract in the international bid for tele-control devices of Sichuan-Guizhou Railway.

1981

December 2, the University was enlisted in the first batch of institutions authorized to offer doctoral and master programs. Half a year later, the first cohort of 36 candidates obtained their master degrees. In 1985, the first cohort of doctoral candidates graduated.

1981

March 30, Chinese Academy of Sciences released the list of its first 400 members (academicians) after the Cultural Revolution. Professor Cao Jianyou was included in the list together with other 40 alumni and graduates of the University.

1978

December, 14 faculty members of the University attended the National Conference of Railway Science and Technology held in Beijing, and the University won 14 scientific and technical awards.

1978

March 18, as specially-invited representatives, Professors Wang Jinnuo and Luo He attended the National Science Conference held in Beijing. The University had received 15 awards at the Conference.

1964

July 26, the University won a national third price for its participation in the trial manufacture of the remote-control device for the power supply system of electric railways and the 1st prize of Ministry of Railway for its participation in researches on and trial manufacture of “Shaoshan” electric locomotive.

1960

March 26, students from Class 3 (1956) collaborated with students and teachers of Ji’nan Railway College and designed the first gas diesel locomotive in China.

1957

December, the first programme of diesel locomotive in China was offered at the University under the supervision of Professor Sun Zhusheng.

1950

December, the University enrolled 19 students from Vietnam. Till 1963, nearly one hundred students from Vietnam, North Korea, etc. graduated from the University.

1947

May 15, the Song of the School (later the University Anthem) was officially published.

1916

March 15 to April 14, the Ministry of Education hosted the National Student Performance Exhibition and Competition for Specialized High Schools and Colleges. The School sent the works of Wang Jieyao (1915) and Mao Yisheng (1916) to the Exhibition, both of them won the first prize and an plaque inscribed with the 4 characters “Si Shi Yang Hua” (Cultivating Talents for the Rejuvenization of the Chinese Nation) was granted to the School by the Minister of Education as a special award.

1900

April, the first cohort of students graduated, and 17 students were awarded graduation certificates. They are the pioneer batch of college graduates in civil engineering in the history of Chinese modern education and embodies the groundbreaking achievement of the Imperial Chinese Railway College. The graduation diploma of Zhang Xiaoji, one among the first cohort of graduates, can be found in the University’s Archives. It is the earliest diploma issued by the University.