Enter the ancient town of Meicheng? 3 The first stop for Zhejiang University’s westward migration

Bucun Lanying/Pictures/Text

Snow particles are floating in the sky, and the decaying reeds are still clinging to the river bank. Along the slowly flowing Fuchun River, looking at the small fishing village on the other side of the mountain, we happily visited the ancient town of Meicheng.

Walk through the bustling New Year market and bypass the endless crowds of vegetable stalls. The eye-catching "No. 1 Zhejiang University" building appeared in front of us. This was the site of the first stop of Zhejiang University’s westward migration.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the then educator Principal Zhu Kezhen, with the ideal of saving the country through education and rejuvenating the country through science, began to move westward and run schools in exile. His first stop was the ancient town of Jiande Meicheng.

Jiande is about 240 kilometers southwest of Hangzhou and was called Yanzhou in ancient times. At that time, Zhejiang University teachers and students set off in three batches and took boats at Jianggan Pier to Jiande.

Although Zhejiang University studied and lived in Meicheng for only more than 40 days, Zhejiang University and Meicheng had all-round infiltrative contact, and teachers and students left their footprints here. It also painted a strong mark on the history of Meicheng Ancient Town.

2022/01/29 Written in the ancient town of Meicheng