Zhang Baixi was born in Changsha County of Hunan province, where he studied in the top local school, Chengnan 城南书院, under Guo Songtao (1818-1891).

As high administrator for many years, Zhang Baixi advocated profound political, economical and educational reforms.

After the Boxer Rebellion, partly because there were few surviving officials of ability and experience, he became a close advisor to the Empress Dowager.

One was national pride, to show the world that China could have a world-class university even after the Boxer debacle.

He succeeded in getting government funding for an expanded and more impressive campus in the heart of the capital and for a well-supported faculty.