Geographic Connections

Jimei School Village, Xiamen University, Zengcuo’an, Tong’anli, Shentian Road, Datong Town, Xinglin District, Huli Xiaodongshan, Haicang Jiutian Lake, Gulangyu, Tong’an Maxiang.

Introduction: The Banner of ‘All Wealth for Education’

In the profound chapters of the Xiamen City Chronicles, the narrative of education is forever tied to one great name—Chen Jiageng. As early as 1894, Chen founded the Tizhai School in his hometown of Jimei. By the early 20th century, he had not only founded multiple Chinese schools abroad but also turned his attention back to his struggling motherland. In 1913, he formally established the Jimei Schools, and over the following decades, through “Alumni Donations,” he built a comprehensive educational system from kindergarten to university on the tidal flats and hillsides of Xiamen, laying a solid foundation for the modernization of education in China.

Core Archive Interpretation I: The ‘Bedrock Data’ of Jimei and Xiamen University

According to the Education Volume of the Xiamen City Chronicles, Jimei School Village was the first of its kind in Chinese history, with a scale and vocational breadth unparalleled in modern times.

  • Diverse Vocational Layout: Starting in 1918, Chen founded schools for teacher training, fisheries, navigation, commerce, and agriculture/forestry in Jimei. By 1936, Xiamen had 105 schools in total, including 1 university and 12 middle schools.
  • Xiamen University Founding: Established in 1921, the construction was personally managed by Chen Jiageng. Archives show he twice applied for land and moved over 40,000 graves to level the site, reflecting the immense vision and hardship of the time.
  • Sparks of Cultural Resistance: During the Anti-Japanese War, Xiamen University moved to Changting, maintaining the spark of Chinese higher education under extreme conditions.

Core Archive Interpretation II: The Strategic Leap to ‘Education City’ in the SEZ Era

After the establishment of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1980, education entered a period of continuous development.

  • Geometric Growth in Investment: Archival data reveals that from 1981 to 1995, Xiamen’s total expenditure on education reached 1.141 billion RMB, with an average annual growth rate of 27.91%. This rate significantly outpaced the growth of total fiscal revenue.
  • Universal Nine-Year Compulsory Education: In 1984, Xiamen was the first in the province to achieve universal primary education. By 1993, all six districts in Xiamen had passed provincial inspection for universal nine-year compulsory education.
  • The Blueprint for an ‘Education City’: In 1993, the Xiamen municipal government officially decided to transform Xiamen into an “Education City”. By 1995, statistics showed that Xiamen’s number of students per 10,000 people in high schools and vocational schools ranked first in the province, while its university student ratio was five times the national average.

Core Archive Interpretation III: The Relay of ‘三胞’ (Compatriots) and Social Forces

The Chronicles meticulously document the continuous contributions of overseas Chinese and social forces to Xiamen’s education, forming a unique “Co-construction Model”.

  • Scholarship Systems: By 1989, Xiamen University alone had 20 different scholarships founded by overseas Chinese, such as the “Jiageng Award” and the “Bendong Award”.
  • New Private-Public Partnerships: In 1994, the Xiamen Yingcai School, with a total investment of nearly 200 million RMB and covering 166,000 square meters, was completed in Xinglin, marking a shift toward diversified educational funding.
  • New Pivot for Science and Education: The “Science and Technology Middle School,” co-founded by the government and Xiamen University in 1994, aimed to cultivate innovative scientific talent, linking education directly with the SEZ’s high-tech industry.

Modern Enlightenment: Education as the ‘Ultimate Infrastructure’

Decoding these digital archives provides three profound insights for modern urban governance:

  1. Education is the Primary Investment for Soft Power: From Chen Jiageng’s early dedication to the SEZ government’s 30% annual budget growth, Xiamen’s archives prove that sustainable urban momentum only exists when education precedes economic demand.
  2. Modern Value of the ‘School Village’ Model: The early integration of industry (fisheries, navigation) and education in Jimei is the ancestor of today’s industry-education integration and sci-tech synergy.
  3. An Educational Ecosystem of Social Governance: The widespread participation of overseas Chinese and social forces ensures that education is not just a government burden but a shared vision for the entire city.

Xiamen’s leap from a fishing village to a modern “Education City” is mapped out in these yellowed files and surging numbers, representing the most precious spiritual blueprint of the city.