Anhui Normal University is the earliest institution of higher learning in Anhui. It is located in Wuhu, a state-level open city with the reputation of "the city of thousands of lakes". It is close to the vast Yangtze River and adjacent to the beautiful Zheshan Mountain. It is a provincial key comprehensive university and a key high-level university with Anhui characteristics, which is built by the people's government of Anhui Province and the Ministry of Education.
The school's predecessor was the provincial Anhui University 1928 founded in Anqing. 1946 was renamed as National Anhui University, and 1949 moved to Wuhu in February. Later, it went through several stages, such as Anhui Normal University, Hefei Normal University, Southern Anhui University (inscribed by Liu Shaoqi) and Anhui University of Workers and Peasants. 1972, approved by the State Council, was officially named Anhui Normal University (inscribed by Guo Moruo). In 2005, Wuhu Normal University was merged into Anhui Normal University.