In February 1939, President Zhu Kezhen came to Guiyang to discuss with Wu Dingchang, then chairman of Guizhou Province, about moving Zhejiang University to Jianshui in Yunnan or Anshun in Guizhou. During the discussion, Shixian Chen and Song Linsheng, who worked in Guiyang, happened to meet Meitan, and they urged President Zhu to move to Meitan, because Meitan was beautiful, cheap and good, and the people's feelings were simple. After listening to their introductions, President Zhu visited Meitan. Yan Puquan, then the county magistrate of Meitan County, worked in Jiangsu. He was very happy to hear that President Zhu came to Mae for an inspection. He personally convened people from all walks of life to organize 21 groups, extended a grand welcome to President Zhu's arrival, and told President Zhu to choose the best houses in Meitan for teachers and students of Zhejiang University. After a day's inspection in Mae, President Zhu wrote in his diary: Meitan has beautiful scenery, simple folk customs and cheap prices. Decided to move Zhejiang University to Meitan.
On January 16th, 194, Zhu Kezhen arrived in Zunyi from Guiyang, and was welcomed by all the gentlemen in the city. As some pavements and bridges on the road from Zunyi to Meitan were not completed, Zhejiang University, which moved to Zunyi, had to temporarily arrange for the resumption of classes, and at the same time sent Hu Gangfu, Dean of the School of Science, and Cai Banghua, Dean of the Agricultural College, to Meitan to plan the relocation. In June, teachers and students of Zhejiang University's Agricultural College moved to Meitan one after another, and classes officially started on June 1. On September 22nd, President Zhu came to Mae with Professor Hu Gangfu and Professor Fei Gong. The next day, he visited the Jiangxi Guild Hall, Sanchu Guild Hall, Sichuan Guild Hall, Nanhua Palace and other places, and decided to move the first-year students who were stranded in Qingyan, Guiyang to Yongxing, and the Science Department and Teachers College moved to Meitan County quickly. So far, Zhejiang University ended its westward migration for more than two years, and found a pure land suitable for teaching and scientific research in northern Guizhou. Because the route of Zhejiang University's westward migration is basically consistent with the route of the first half of the Red Army's Long March, and the foothold is Zunyi, which has a turning point in China's revolution, people call it the "Long March of the Literary Army".
Meitan is a branch of Zhejiang University in Zunyi, with liberal arts in Zunyi, science in Meitan, agriculture in Zunyi, and the first-year branch school in Yongxing Field in Meitan.
During the wartime, the legal tender depreciated and prices soared. As most students from Zhejiang University came from enemy-occupied areas, their financial resources were cut off, and they made a living by working and studying at public expense. As a result, the teaching and administrative staff had a lot of expenses and had a hard time living. Although the printing conditions and paper are extremely difficult, there are more academic journals than before the war. Every famous scientist's birthday or meaningful festival, there will be academic reports.
At this time, the patriotic forces of Zhejiang University are developing vigorously, and all kinds of anti-Japanese activities are carried out in the spirit of "saving the country by studying", including black and white literary and art societies, pioneering societies, painting societies outside the Tower, and Tieli Troupe. In 1943, the "Meijiang Yin Society" was established, which was initiated by Su Buqing and accompanied by many tourists. Or worry about the country and the people, or sing praises to the magnificent rivers and mountains.
At the same time, physical training is endless, and all open spaces have become sports fields. The middle school attached to Zhejiang University merged with Meitan Middle School. Zhejiang University has an important influence on the local style of study. The local youth always take business and being an official as their future, and since then, the reading atmosphere has become increasingly strong.
Life and study conditions are so difficult, but among the more than 1,3 students trained by Zhejiang University's westward migration, many elites such as Li Zhengdao, Cheng Kaijia, Gu Chaohao, Shi Yafeng and Ye Duzheng have emerged. According to incomplete statistics, among the teachers and students who taught and studied in Zhejiang University that year, 5 people were later elected as academicians of the two academies. Li Zhengdao once said that a year's "seeking truth from facts" school spirit inspired him to push physics for decades and gave him the Chinese cultural heritage to climb the world peak.
Zhejiang University has been running a school in Meitan, Zunyi for seven years, which is called the most glorious seven years in the history of Zhejiang University and the most important development period in the history of Zhejiang University. There are 45 academicians of the two academies who have worked and studied in Mae, including a large number of elites of China intellectuals. The main papers of world famous scientists such as Zhu Kezhen, Su Buqing, Wang Ganchang, Tan Jiazhen, Bei Shizhang, Lu Hefu and Chen Jiangong have been written in Meitan. They have devoted themselves to research and made great achievements under very humble conditions. They not only made outstanding contributions to China's scientific cause, but also played a great role in promoting the political, cultural and economic development of northern Guizhou and Meitan.