Zhejiang University

Hangzhou, China · founded 1897 · 57,000 students · public research university

Known for: A top-tier Chinese university known for its excellence in engineering, technology, and business, often ranked among the best in China, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and global collaborations.

Rankings

QS World: #47
Times Higher Education: #67
ARWU Shanghai: #33

Top programmes

Engineering
Computer Science
Business and Management
Agriculture
Medicine
Materials Science

Notable alumni

Lu Yongxiang — Former President of Zhejiang University and President of Chinese Academy of Engineering
Wang Jian — Co-founder of Alibaba Group
Shi Yigong — Structural biologist and President of Westlake University
Pan Yunhe — Computer scientist and former President of Zhejiang University
Chen Duxiu — Co-founder of the Communist Party of China

Traditions

Zhejiang University Entrepreneurship Competition
Qiushi Forum academic lectures
Spring campus flower viewing festivals

If Zhejiang University were…

As a food: Hangzhou Dongpo pork — Refined, rich, and rooted in a city that's been a cultural and economic powerhouse for centuries—it's traditional but elevated, the kind of dish that signals you've made it. Zhejiang University combines deep history with
As an athlete: Klay Thompson — Elite shooter who thrives in a system built for winning championships, surrounded by other stars, and known for both precision and clutch performance. Zhejiang University attracts top talent, operates in China's tech cap
As a person alive today: Zhang Yiming (ByteDance/TikTok founder) — A tech visionary who built a global empire by combining engineering rigor with entrepreneurial hustle, emerging from China's elite university system. Zhejiang University embodies that same blend of technical excellence a
As a historical figure: Shen Kuo (Song Dynasty polymath) — A scientist, engineer, and statesman from Hangzhou's golden age who made breakthroughs in astronomy, geology, and mathematics—the Renaissance man of medieval China. Zhejiang University carries that legacy of intellectual
As a movie or TV show: Silicon Valley (HBO) — A sharp comedy about tech ambition, startup culture, and the relentless pressure to innovate and scale—everyone's building the next big thing while navigating egos and competition. Zhejiang University sits in China's ans
As a US president: Bill Clinton — Charismatic, policy-savvy, and from a new generation that embraced globalization and tech-driven growth—he bridged tradition and modernity. Zhejiang University is similarly positioned: deeply rooted in Chinese academia b
As a city: Shenzhen — A city that went from fishing village to tech megacity in 40 years—fast-moving, entrepreneurial, and where fortunes are made by those who can innovate and execute. Zhejiang University thrives in a similar ecosystem in Ha
As an element: Silicon — The foundation of all modern computing and semiconductors—not the flashiest element, but absolutely essential to the digital age. Zhejiang University is China's academic silicon: the bedrock of its tech industry, produci
As a car: 2024 BYD Seal — China's homegrown electric answer to Tesla—fast, tech-forward, and aggressively competitive in the global marketplace. Zhejiang's entrepreneurial engine and tech dominance in Hangzhou's innovation corridor mirror BYD's a

Campus life

Zhejiang University has a dynamic and innovative campus culture, heavily influenced by its location in Hangzhou, a tech hub. Student life balances rigorous academics with opportunities for entrepreneurship and participation in numerous tech and business competitions.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if Zhejiang University were a movie or TV show?” with Silicon Valley (2014). A sharp comedy about tech ambition, startup culture, and the relentless pressure to innovate and scale—everyone's building the next big thing while navigating egos and competition. Zhejiang University sits in China's answer to Silicon Valley, where students are constantly pitching ideas, forming companies, and chasing unicorn status. It sits in the 86th percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.