Hunan University originated from Yuelu Academy, which was founded in 976 AD. 1903 was transformed into a Hunan higher education institution, 1926 was named as a provincial Hunan university, 1937 became a 15 national university of the national government. 1953 was renamed as central south institute of architecture and engineering in the adjustment of national departments, and 1959 restored the name of Hunan university. In 2000, it merged with Hunan University of Finance and Economics to form a new Hunan University.

In the 29th year of Guangxu reign in Qing Dynasty (1903), Yuelu Academy was restructured, merged with Hunan Provincial University Hall, and established Hunan High Church in the former site. The school still takes the academy as the school building, only changing the "East-West Zhai She" into a new look, while the ancestral halls such as lecture hall, Wenchang Pavilion, library building and Zhang Zhu in Zhoucheng remain unchanged from the gate.