Yili Normal University

Yili Normal University (YLNU) is situated in the Yili River Valley, Xinjiang, known as the 'Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall' for its lush scenery. It is a co-established university by the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and a master's degree-granting institution.

YLNU receives paired assistance from Nanjing University, Northeast Normal University, and Nanjing Normal University. With a history dating back to 1948, it became a full undergraduate university in 1980 and was renamed Yili Normal University in 2018.

YLNU's key strengths lie in its unique location and multicultural environment. Situated in the core area of the Belt and Road Initiative, near Kazakhstan, it is an ideal place to study Chinese, teacher education, and Central Asian cultures.

Teacher education is its flagship, earning the reputation 'Cradle of Talents at the Foot of the Tianshan Mountains.' The university offers 10 first-level master's programs and 8 professional master's programs in education, literature, science, and engineering.

YLNU comprises 18 colleges offering 64 undergraduate programs across arts, sciences, engineering, education, law, economics, management, and arts. The faculty of 1,453 includes over 40% senior professors, many with overseas experience.

The curriculum blends theory and practice: teacher training includes micro-teaching and internships; non-teaching programs like tourism management and bioscience align with local industries. Research is supported by provincial key labs such as the 'Yili River Basin Ecology and Bioresource Protection Lab.' The university has teaching equipment worth 185 million yuan, a library with 1.907 million volumes, and 30 electronic databases.

The main campus in Yining City features a green, scenic environment with a mix of modern and ethnic architecture. Facilities include multimedia classrooms, labs, a gym, and a library. Dormitories offer 4-6 person rooms with air conditioning, hot water, and internet.

Canteens serve diverse cuisines catering to different ethnic and dietary needs. The surrounding area has convenient shops, hospitals, and transport. Yili's pleasant climate and natural beauty—like Nalati Grassland and Sayram Lake—offer students rich recreational opportunities.