Jishou University, referred to as "Jida", is located in Jishou City, Hunan Province. It is a university jointly established by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the provincial departments of Hunan Provincial People's Government. It is a domestic first-class discipline construction university in Hunan Province, and has been selected into the national "Basic Capacity Building Project of Universities in the Midwest", "Excellent Doctor Education and Training Plan", "Excellent Agriculture and Forestry Talents Education and Training Plan" and "Serving the National Special Needs Doctor Training Plan".

The school was founded in April 1958 and upgraded to a provincial comprehensive university in April 1978. In the same year, Xiangxi Branch of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University was merged into Jishou University to form the Department of Medicine, and Xiangxi Branch of Xiangtan University was merged into Jishou University to form the Department of Physical Education. In 2000, Jishou Health School was merged into Jishou University. 200 1, Xiangxi Institute of Ethnic Education and Jishou Normal School for Nationalities merged into Jishou University to form Jishou Normal College; In 2002, Wuling College (Wuling University) was merged into Jishou University and became the Zhangjiajie Campus of Jishou University.