Rugao Public Normal School

Located in the southeastern corner of Rugao City, Rugao Public Normal School was designated a Provincial-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province in 1995.

Founded in the 28th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1902) by Sha Yuanbing — a jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examination), Hanlin Academy compiler, and later Speaker of the Jiangsu Provincial Assembly — with the backing of his mentor Zhang Zhidong, this school ranks among China’s earliest public normal schools.