After returning to China, Yan Fu, president of Peking University, was hired as a senior of the School of Science (equivalent to the later dean of the School of Science) and a professor of physics, teaching theoretical physics and other courses. He and He Yujie trained the first undergraduate physics graduates in Peking University (entrance 19 13, graduation 19 16), which created the history of education in China University of Physics. 19 17 At the beginning of this year, Cai Yuanpei became the president of Peking University and hired Xia Yuanli as the science senior.

In June191711,Xia Yuanli, with the help of other professors, put forward a report on changing the science curriculum, and the academic system was changed to two years of preparatory course and four years of undergraduate course. Strengthening experiments and increasing elective courses in the "Program" have greatly improved the level of curriculum setting. On June 19 18, 10, on behalf of Peking University, he put forward the teaching scheme of various disciplines of science to the presidents' meeting, and made relatively complete suggestions on the curriculum, such as adding modern electricity (including radiation theory, electronic theory, light theory and radiation theory), relativity, quantum theory, fluid mechanics, advanced theoretical mechanics, acoustics and so on. This scheme not only reflects Xia Yuanli's profound understanding of the progress of physics at that time, but also shows his foresight in integrating the latest achievements of physics into the teaching content. 19 17 years, relativity and quantum theory (that is, quantum theory) just came into being, and their theories are still incomplete, but they have become recognized disciplines in physics. The scheme put forward by Xia Yuanli had a certain influence on science teaching in China around the 1920s. 1929 In March, Xia Yuanli was elected as the head of the Physics Department of Peking University. March 1930, re-elected. Starting from 193 1, the dean of Peking University is no longer elected by professors, but appointed directly by the president. Xia Yuanli was the head of the Department of Physics until Wang Shoujing was appointed as the head of the Department in 193 1. He has taught in Peking University 10 for more than 0 years, and has made great contributions to the construction of physics department in Peking University.

While teaching in Peking University, Xia Yuanli also taught at Beijing Normal University and Fu Jen Catholic University. 1924- 1927, served as president of Tongji university and professor of physics department of Daxia university. From 65438 to 0928, he successively served as Dean of Women's College of Arts and Sciences of Beiping University, Professor of Physics Department of Institute of Technology, and Acting President of Beiping University. 1936, successively served as director of Hunan Provincial Education Department, provost of Hunan University and Chongqing University, provost of Daxia University (in Guiyang during the Anti-Japanese War) and dean of the Faculty of Science. Xia Yuanli loves teaching and researching knowledge. He has been teaching for decades and never speaks casually; In every class, he must first think about the materials and how to speak them. His lectures always attract students, no matter how deep the theory is, after his simple metaphor and repeated explanation, the students are familiar with it. Before his death, he took foreign language courses such as general physics, optics, electricity, heat, electronic theory, relativity, quantum theory, wave mechanics, theoretical physics, modern physics, analytic geometry, advanced calculus, group theory, general theory of science, English and German. He knows all about the progress of contemporary physics. Although he is a theoretical physicist, he advocates that "experimental physics and theoretical physics can be combined and inseparable, and if they are combined, they will be beneficial, while if they are divided, they will be harmful." He repeatedly stressed that "the highest court of physics is in experiment and observation. No matter who has this degree, he can play his own strange ideas, but he must ask whether they are consistent with the experiment. "

Xia Yuanli has always regarded teaching as a noble profession. He said: "Because the highest wisdom of human beings is science, and the people who impart scientific knowledge are teachers, teachers should not sell themselves short, and social bureaucrats should not pay attention to teachers' bad habits." He is extremely disgusted with the bad rules of officialdom. He gave up many opportunities because he didn't intend to be in a high position all his life. In his view, being an official is "boring for me" and "I spend less time on construction and more time on people." People's life span is limited, so why suffer so much? ""In addition, the most painful thing is that good plans are often not implemented. Most of the organs and organs are empty words, and those who make little efforts may not be appreciated by their superiors. In short, it is extremely painful to do something that is not close in temperament. " His words can be said to have hit the nail on the head of the bureaucracy in the old society.

The Chinese Physical Society was founded in 1932, with Xia Yuanli as the director of Ren Xuehui. He has been enthusiastically sponsoring and actively supporting the cause of physics. He is modest, knowledgeable, supportive and sincere. 1935, someone asked him why he didn't write a book. He replied: "First, because there are many scholars who woo me, I dare not make a fool of myself; Second, due to the rapid development of modern physics, the book has not yet been published and the information is outdated; Third, because there are too many materials, it is difficult to choose. And I think writing a book must have original opinions, or better explanations, fresh performances and so on. , and I am not as good as people. Fourth, because the translation of nouns is difficult, readers can't understand and don't read what they know. I've been teaching for decades, but I'm afraid to publish a book. I think it's nothing outstanding. China's physics has made great progress in recent years, and China's papers can often be seen in physics magazines all over the world. Tsinghua, Department of Physics of Peking University and Institute of Physics of Peking Research Institute all worked hard, but I can't compare with them. "This sincere and modest attitude is admirable.

Xia Yuanli is not tall, lean and strong, and has a kind face. He treats people warmly and treats students like children. After the Japanese army invaded China on a large scale, 1937, China Science and Culture Center moved to the southwest, and Xia Yuanli left Hunan to teach at universities in the southwest. His German wife finally returned to China because of her German nationality. After several years of fighting in the southwest, he was worried about his country and people. He died in Guiyang on 1944 due to years of poverty and a heart attack.