From 1938 to 1944, Xiangya School of Medicine continued its medical education in Guiyang. On July 22, Central South University Vice President Li Zhihong, leadership from Xiangya School of Medicine and the Hospital Administration Office, along with over 30 staff members, returned to the original Guiyang campus. The event included live explanations by Huang Shanqi, former associate researcher of the Central South University Archives, and and Xiangya School of Medicine alumni from the class of 2000 who currently work in Guiyang, revisiting those historic years.

When Xiangya first relocated to Guiyang, the faculty and students had no place to stay and had to live in temples atop Dongshan. Despite the steep and challenging terrain, they persevered daily, continuously conducting teaching activities. During the return visit, the leadership and staff climbed Dongshan, experiencing a fraction of the hardship faced by their predecessors, and were deeply moved by their unwavering spirit.

The shallow banks of the Nanming River served as a place for the relocated Xiangya faculty and students to do laundry, and they even swam in the deeper parts of the river. Shidongpo, where the Xiangya campus was located, consisted of thatched huts where classes and experiments were conducted, and sports like volleyball were played on the uneven ground outside. Sometimes, classes were held outdoors, with students sitting on the ground. This area, known as “Xiangya Village”, was a significant activity site for the relocated Xiangya faculty and students. Although the area is now covered with trees and the buildings are no longer there, the name “Xiangya Village” persists, with local landmarks like the “Xiangya Village” bus stop and farmers’ market preserving the memory of Xiangya’s past. The school motto and anthem born here continue to inspire generations of Xiangya people.

The leadership and staff also visited BYD Battery Business Unit FinDreams Battery, an alumni enterprise in Guiyang.

This event received strong support from the Guiyang Municipal Party Committee and Government, Guiyang Science and Technology Bureau, Guiyang Health Commission, the First People’s Hospital of Guiyang, and Xiangya alumni in Guizhou. It is an important initiative for preserving and passing on Xiangya’s cultural heritage by jointly exploring historical materials related to Xiangya in Guiyang.

(First Review: Li Ruijun; Second Review: Zhou Zhijun; Third Review: Chang Shi)