1.The Overseas Department of the Sino-French Institute in Lyon became one of the overseas departments of the National Guangdong University

On February 6, 1925, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in his capacity as the Grand Marshal of the Army and Navy, signed respective orders for Hu Hanmin, the Governor of Guangdong, and Zou Lu, the President of the National Guangdong University. In accordance with the original proposal, the Overseas Department of the Sino-French Institute in Lyon was set as one of the overseas departments of the National Guangdong University in Guangzhou.

Photo: Former site of the Sino-French Institute in Lyon

2.Renamed as National Sun Yat-sen University

On March 24, 1925, in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing sent a letter to the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, suggesting renaming the National Guangdong University as National Sun Yat-sen University. On March 30, at the 71st Plenary Session of the 1st Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, Liao Zhongkai proposed the inclusion in the agenda of renaming the National Guangdong University as the National Sun Yat-sen University. On March 13, 1926, it was decided at the 70th University Affairs Meeting that the Preparatory Committee of the National Sun Yat-sen University would be formed, and that members including Chiang Kai-shek, Chu Minyi, Hsu Chung-ching, Guo Moruo, Xiong Rui, Lin Boqu, and Cai Yuanpei would participate in the preparations. On August 17, the Nanjing National Government formally decreed to rename the National Guangdong University as the National Sun Yat-sen University.

Photo 1: Discussions of the National Sun Yat-sen University

Photo 2: Letter from the Nanjing National Government that renamed the National Guangdong University as the National Sun Yat-sen University

Shaiji (Shakee) Massacre resulted in a number of injured students of the National Guangdong University

On June 23, 1925, Bi Lei, the chairman of the students’ union of the Univeristy, went on an anti-imperialist demonstration in support of the May Thirtieth Movement. Around 100,000 workers, students, civilians, and soldiers in Guangzhou took part in the demonstration. Among the vast crowds, students of the National Guangdong University were in the vanguard of the student demonstrators. As the procession made its way along Shaji Bund opposite the Shamian Island, they fell victim to gunshots by British and French imperialists. Over 50 were killed, including Ou Lizhou and Xu Yaozhang, a teacher and a student of Lingnan University, and more than 110 people were injured, including a number of students of the University. This astounding event shook the nation and became known as the Shaji (Shakee) Massacre.

Photo 1: Scene of the Shaji (Shakee) Massacre

Photo 2: The Report of the Commission for the Investigation of the Shakee Massacre June 23 1925 Canton China. Li Yueyi of the National Guangdong University was a member of the Standing Commission for the Investigation

4.Guangdong Public University of Medical Sciences merged with the National Guangdong University

At the end of June 1925, students of Guangdong Public University of Medical Sciences petitioned the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, the Generalissimo Mansion, and the National Guangdong University to take over its university and set up the Medical College of the National Guangdong University. In July, Guangdong Public University of Medical Sciences officially merged with the National Guangdong University.

Photo 1: Students of Guangdong Public University of Medical Sciences petitioning the government to take over its university and merge it with the National Guangdong University

Photo 2: Guangdong Public University of Medical Sciences