Founded in 1928 as the first art academy with complete academic programs in China, China Academy of Art, undergoing changes in name and location, continues to yield outstanding achievements known both at home and abroad. CAA has experienced early hardship, ample maturity and leaping expansion as a vanguard in art. With a mission to revitalize Chinese art, it is in active dialogue with the world and has great influence in the development of modern and contemporary art in China.

Nowadays the academy has expanded its departments and academic teams and has garnered tremendous achievements in the school history. The infrastructure of CAA has improved in unprecedented ways. With Nanshan Campus being finished in 2003, and Xiangshan Campus being fully functional in 2007, covering an area of 1000 hectares and total space of 300,000 square meters, the academy now has three beautiful and well equipped campuses in the cities of Hangzhou and Shanghai.

Core Values

The serene views of the West Lake and the inviting vistas of the Xiangshan campus nurture the unique spirit of the academy, inspire a poetic dialogue between nature and mind, which also shaped the legacy of the academy. This peaceful natural environment beacons the individual to reflect and explore, to observe and to create. Thus, the spirit of China Academy of Art is not only composed of the picturesque landscape of the lakes and hills, but also of the minds and horizon of artists it fosters. The China Academy of Art has moved its campuses from Gushan Hill to Nanshan Hill and Xiangshan Hill. From hill to hill, conveying A strong sense of mission, A cultural responsibility and spirit, A poetic tradition linked with the hills and waters.

China Academy of Art has developed its unique multiple academic structure. Its fine arts major has been honoured the key discipline of the nation, while fine arts, art of design and art theory have been listed as three key provincial research bases of humanities.Also its majors such as art of design, film, architecture, television and broadcasting are listed as provincial key disciplines during the "11th Five Year Plan"; while architecture, drama and film, and public art are listed as provincial key disciplines during the "12th Five Year Plan".

CAA now has 4 first standard doctoral programs, which are art theory, fine arts, design, drama and film. And has over 1200 graduate students.