Exhibition honoring Chinese modern medical pioneer Yan Fuqing opens in Liverpool

A special exhibition titled Dr Yan: Pioneer – A Bridge of Sino-British Medical & Cultural Exchange is celebrating the life and legacy of Dr Yan Fuqing, a pioneering figure in modern Chinese medicine.

Jointly presented by the Shanghai Medical College at Fudan University, the Shanghai-based daily newspaper Jiefang Daily, and the University of Liverpool, the exhibition runs from Tuesday to Saturday at the Liverpool Medical Institution in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and commemorates Yan Fuqing (1882-1970), a pioneer of modern medicine and medical education in China, who had a special connection to Liverpool.

After becoming the first Asian person to earn a medical doctorate from Yale University in 1909, Yan pursued further studies at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, where he was exposed to pioneering work in tropical medicine, disease prevention, and public health.

The experience he gained in Liverpool had a lasting influence on his subsequent medical career.

After returning to China, Yan became the founding dean of two landmark medical schools that later developed into the Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University and the Shanghai Medical College at Fudan University.

Yan also played a key role in establishing the Chinese Medical Association and several major medical institutions and promoted preventive medicine and public healthcare.

Featuring nearly 50 exhibits, including rare archival documents, handwritten manuscripts, historical photographs, newspapers, periodicals, and books illustrating his life and achievements, the exhibition highlights Yan's significant contributions to Sino-British medical and cultural ties.

Tim Jones, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said at the opening of the exhibition: "His life demonstrates how education can bridge cultures, advance knowledge and improve lives."

Xu Jun, deputy dean of Shanghai Medical College, noted that "serving the people" was an enduring part of Yan's legacy and described the exhibition's return to Liverpool as both a tribute to a medical pioneer and a new starting point for deeper China-UK cooperation in medical education and public health.

Nick Small, vice-mayor of Liverpool, highlighted the city's long-standing ties with China, particularly the 27 years of its sister-city relationship with Shanghai. He described Yan's story as a powerful example of cross-cultural learning and exchange, and expressed the hope that the exhibition will introduce his legacy to a wider audience.

Tang Rui, consul general of China's consulate general in Manchester, said: "Medicine knows no borders, and improving human health and wellbeing is a shared mission."

Tang reaffirmed the consulate general's support for closer cooperation in medical education, public health research, and cultural exchange between universities, cities, and the two countries.

Wang Na, editor of Jiefang Daily and curator of the exhibition, said: "Any words used to describe this humble pioneer's historic contributions to modern Chinese medicine would hardly be an exaggeration. Dr Yan's life was, in this sense, truly extraordinary … I hope that, as visitors here in Liverpool leave the exhibition hall, they will carry with them this sense of moral courage and a deeper appreciation of the century-spanning Sino-British medical and cultural dialogue that Dr Yan helped to initiate."