Nanjing University or Nanking University, located in Nanjing, China, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China. Following many changes through dynasties since CE 258, it was established as a modern school in 1902 in late Qing dynasty, and became a modern university in the early 1920s, the early years of Republic of China, being the first Chinese modern university with the combination of education and research, and also as a pioneer laying the foundations for the establishment of the modern educational system in China. Before the eve of establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, the name was changed from National Central University to Nanjing University.
Nanjing University is a top comprehensive research university. It is a member of the C9 League and Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance. It is a national university directly under the Ministry of Education of China, largely funded by national and Jiangsu provincial governments, also with other income sources including donations. Nanda mainly has two campuses: Xianlin campus, located in northeast of Nanjing south of the Yangtze River, which is the home to most undergraduates and large part of graduates, and Gulou campus, located in the centre of Nanjing City.