Hunan First Normal University (HNFNU) is situated in Changsha, a renowned historical and cultural city. Reputed as "a millennium-old academic institution and a century-old university of education", HNFNU traces its roots to the Chengnan Academy founded in 1161 AD by Zhang Shi, a famous Neo-Confucian scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1903, it was established as Hunan Normal Academy to launch modern teacher education. It was renamed Hunan Public First Normal School in 1912 and Hunan First Normal School in 1949 Now HNFNU is a first-batch undergraduate enrollment institution in Hunan Province, master's degree-granting university and National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. It has cultivated a number of national pillars such as He Shuheng and Cai Hesen, and gathered renowned educators such as Xu Teli. Mao Zedong, the founding father of PRC, studied and worked here for eight years.China’s President Xi Jinping values the development of HNFNU. During his inspection visit to HNFNU on March 18, 2024, he earnestly instructed that Hunan First Normal University must be well-run.

In the new era, our university forges ahead with the tide of the times, driving reform and innovation while upholding truth-seeking and pragmatism. Aspiring to become a distinctive university of education, HNFNU vigorously fosters the development of teacher education and emerging disciplines, and cultivates a campus environment that boasts a robust international ambiance while retaining distinct local cultural features. We extend a heartfelt welcome to faculty, students and scholars from across the globe to communicate and cooperate with our university!