Central South University is located in Changsha, a famous historical and cultural city in China, covering an area of 310.7 million square meters. The school has 30 secondary colleges, including Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Second Hospital, Xiangya Third Hospital and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital, and enjoys the reputation of "Southern Xiangya".

Central South University was formed in April 2000 by the merger of Hunan Medical University, Changsha Railway Institute and Central South University of Technology. The former Central South University of Technology was formerly known as Central South Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, founded in 1952, and the former Changsha Railway Institute was formerly known as Central South Institute of Architecture and Engineering, founded in 1953. The main disciplines of the two universities can be traced back to the course of Mining and Road in Hunan Higher Institute of Technology founded by 1903.