In 1902, the Sanjiang Normal College, now the famous Nanjing University, was founded, according to today's China Daily.

Renowned scholars such as Li Shutong£¨1881-1940 £©, Mao Yisheng £¨1896-1989 £©, Zhang Daqian£¨1901-84 £©, Pearl S. Buck £¨1892-1973 £© and Xu Beihong £¨1895-1953 £© have taught or studied there.

Among the 1,000 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Engineering Academy, 147 graduated from the university.

Today, Nanjing University, which boasts an old campus, ancient trees and an air of scholarly pursuits, is one of the top universities in China.

The university is busily preparing for its 100th anniversary, on May 20, 2002.

According to Jiang Shusheng, a physicist and president of Nanjing University, the university will celebrate its past achievements and its hopes for an even better future.

Jiang said so at a meeting of the university's board of directors at the end of May.

The board members attending the meeting included Qian Weichang, vice-chairman of the National committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chen Huanyou, chairman of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, and Meng Minwei, chair of Hong Kong Xinxing Corporation Ltd.

The 86 members of last year's board have helped in collecting a total donation of 56 million yuan £¨US$6.7 million£© since its founding in 1997, according to Jiang Shusheng.