Rong Hong is called the "Father of Chinese Students Abroad" not only because he was the first person in modern China to study abroad, but also because he was a pioneer in the cause of Chinese people studying abroad.

Rong Hong (1828-1912), courtesy name Chunfu, was born in Nanping Town, Xiangshan County (now Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province).

Rong Hong's family was poor, and his father went to work in Macau. When he saw that the Morrison School in Macau, run by British missionaries, provided food, housing and no money, he asked his son to study.

This is a foreign school run by Western missionaries in China. Rong Hong attended the school for six years, reading the Bible, learning English, and also learned some Western humanistic thoughts and scientific knowledge.

The principal at that time was an American named Samuel Brown, who graduated from Yale University.

In 1847, Brown left his job and returned to China. He wanted to take several students to the United States to complete their studies. The missionaries of the Christian Church in Hong Kong provided two years of study abroad funds for each student.

Rong Hong was the first to stand up and apply, and his classmates Huang Sheng and Huang Kuan also stood up.

So, the kind-hearted Brown couple took them to the United States for further studies.

With the help of Brown and others, the three entered Monzon School in Massachusetts.

Huang Sheng returned to China due to illness a year later to serve his widowed mother.

Two years later, Huang Kuan graduated from Mengsong School. Following the arrangements of the church, he moved to the UK and was admitted to the University of Edinburgh. He became the first scholar in China to study Western medicine in the UK and obtain a doctorate in medicine. He was also the first scholar in China to engage in teaching Western medicine.

One of the teachers.

Rong Hong was admitted to Yale University in 1850 and became the first American student in China.

He was excellent both in character and academics at school. In order to solve the financial problem, Rong Hong organized meals for his classmates. Later, he got a position as the librarian of the fraternity at Yale University, allowing him to complete four years of study part-time.

In 1854, Rong Hong returned to China after completing his studies.

Based on his own experience, he believed that "China should be irrigated with Western academics so that China will become more civilized, prosperous and powerful." For this reason, he was determined to let more Chinese students study in the United States.

After Yong Hong graduated and returned to China, he worked as a translator in the Hong Kong High Court and Shanghai Customs. He also dealt in silk and tea at Baoshun Matheson.

In 1863, he suggested to Zeng Guofan to establish a machine factory, and was entrusted to go to the United States to purchase machinery and prepare to establish the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau.

In 1865, as one of the plans of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, he suggested sending students to study abroad.

In 1870, he proposed to Zeng Guofan. Finally, in the winter of that year, the Qing government approved Rong Hong's plan to send students abroad. From 1872 to 1875, 120 people were sent to study abroad.

Thirty people are dispatched every year.

The age requirement for students is from 12 to 15 years old, they need to be in good health, understand Chinese and Western writing, have a solid guarantee, and the study abroad time is 15 years.

In July 1872, the first batch of overseas students organized by Rong Hong went to the United States under the supervision of Chen Lanbin, a native of Wuchuan, Guangdong. Rong Hong himself went to the United States first to prepare.

Thirty students, all wearing long robes and mandarin jackets, melon-pipe hats, and dignified manners.

When they arrived in the American city of Hartford, there was a sensation throughout the city.

This is the beginning of the history of studying abroad in China.

In the United States, these schoolchildren under the age of fifteen quickly adapt to the new environment and have excellent academic performance.