Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) (1920-1960) (Harbin Sino-Russian Industrial School) in 1920 The origin of Yanshan University can be traced back to the
Harbin Institute of Technology(Harbin Sino-Russian Industrial School), founded in 1920. In 1958, the Department of Heavy Machinery of Harbin Institute of Technology and its related specialties moved to the strategic industrial town of
Fulaerji,
Qiqihar in northeast China's
Heilongjiang Province and was renamed the School of Heavy Machinery of the Harbin Institute of Technology.
Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute (1960-1997) The School of Heavy Machinery of the Harbin Institute of Technology gained independence in 1960 and was renamed as the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute. Later, in 1961, it merged with the
Shenyang College of Heavy Machinery and the
Lanzhou Petroleum Industry Institute. In 1978, it was recognized as one of the 88 key national institutions for higher education. From 1984 onwards, some of the departments and staff of the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute started moving southward to
Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in Hebei Province.
Yanshan University (1997~present) The Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute completely migrated to Qinhuangdao in 1997. It was accredited by the former
State Education Commission to adopt the present name of
Yanshan University. ==Academics==