In 1929, Wang Zuanxu, then a military official under Liu Xiang, purchased Zhang Family Garden, over 100 hectares on the south bank of the Jialing River in Chongqing, as the site for Bashu School.

Wang, driven by the belief that education was the path to national rejuvenation, spent a few years planning and constructing the school, which was criticized by Liu for diverting focus and time.

In 1932, Bashu School was completed, and as a token of respect to Liu, Wang named the main campus Xiang Garden.

Wang engaged renowned educators and figures, such as Sun Bocai, Ye Shengtao, Wei Chucai, and Lu Zuofu, in academic and administrative positions, with Zhou Xu being the first principal..[2][3] In 1933, the school opened with full funding from Wang.

In 1950, following the founding of the People's Republic of China, the school was taken over by the Southwest Military and Political Commission and became a school for the children of cadres in the Southwest Bureau of the Central Committee of the CCP.