Ji Qi donated 100 million yuan

According to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, on the morning of February 26, the signing ceremony for the “All-Season Humanities Development Fund” donation and the appointment of Director Ji Qi as a school trustee, celebrating the 130th anniversary of the university’s founding, was held at the Wenbo Building Conference Center on Minhang Campus.

Renowned entrepreneur and founder of Huazhu Group, alumnus of the 1989 undergraduate class in Engineering Mechanics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and alumnus of the 1992 master’s class in Mechanical Engineering, Ji Qi, donated 100 million RMB to his alma mater to support the university’s various development initiatives.

In front of all guests, Ji Qi and Shanghai Jiao Tong University President Ding Kuiling jointly signed the donation agreement for the “All-Season Humanities Development Fund.” Subsequently, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Party Secretary Yang Zhenbin and President Ding Kuiling presented Ji Qi with a donation certificate and a thank-you plaque.

Yang Zhenbin expressed gratitude for Ji Qi’s generous donation. He stated that Ji Qi “integrated his unique life insights, entrepreneurial wisdom, and humanistic feelings into every step of the university’s high-quality development, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of Jiao Tong people to practice the school motto ‘Drink water and think of its source, love the country and honor the school’ through concrete actions.” The establishment of the “All-Season Humanities Development Fund” will help revitalize the campus’s cultural landscape, enrich campus life, and deepen its humanistic foundation, offering a significant and valuable gift for the university’s 130th anniversary.

It is reported that Ji Qi, as a benchmark figure in China’s continuous entrepreneurship field, has founded three publicly listed companies: Ctrip, Home Inn, and Huazhu Group.

In the fall of 1985, 19-year-old Ji Qi was admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University from Rudong, Jiangsu. During his speech, Ji Qi recalled his years studying at the university. “The seven years I spent at Jiao Tong were the most important period of my life. Jiao Tong gave me not only professional knowledge but also training in humanistic literacy, along with a group of like-minded friends.”

Talking about the era of artificial intelligence sweeping in, he shared his thoughts: “In the AI era, I hope to bring world-class masters into the campus to provide students with opportunities to quietly reflect on humanistic spirit, just as I experienced during my time at school, to gain more.”

Source: Shanghai Jiao Tong University