On May 28, during the National Science and Technology Week and the National Science and Technology Workers Day, the "Academic Symposium Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Hu Line" was held at Nanjing University. Chen Yunsong, Vice Chair of NJU CPC Council and Michael Meadows, former President of the International Geographical Union, Foreign Fellow of the Geographical Society of China, Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, and Professor at the School of Geography and Ocean Science at Nanjing University, attended and delivered the opening address. Wang Ying, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Professor at Nanjing University, attended the symposium.
In his speech, Chen Yunsong pointed out that as global population governance faces complex challenges and China is at a critical stage of demographic transition and high-quality development, Prof. Hu Huanyong's pioneering research 90 years ago is increasingly visionary. Chen Yunsong reviewed the development history of NJU's geography discipline, emphasizing that Hu Huanyong's spirit is the foundation of the geography discipline at NJU, reflecting our century-long mission of "caring for national needs and shouldering national responsibilities". He hoped that this symposium would reinvigorating the Hu Line and contributing to the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Michael Meadows pointed out that the Hu Line provided an important basis for the integration and development of the discipline of geography in China. As a visual tool, the Hu Line tells the story of geography, environment, history, and economy, reminding us that population distribution is not random but deeply embedded in the structures of topography, climate, infrastructure, and resource accessibility. He mentioned that with the aid of satellite imagery, GIS, and machine learning, researchers can track changes on both sides of the Hu Line with unprecedented precision, further confirming Mr. Hu Huanyong's remarkable academic discovery made 90 years ago.
Lu Huayu, Vice Chairman of the Geographical Society of China and Party Secretary of NJU's School of Geography and Ocean Science, chaired the opening ceremony and academic reports. During the session of academic reports, three experts explored the historical significance, current value, and future trends of the Hu Line from different perspectives.
Mr. Hu Fusun, grandson of Hu Huanyong delivered a presentation titled "Following Natural Laws, Honoring a Master of Geography", providing a comprehensive review of Prof. Hu's academic career and the discovery process of the Hu Line.
Anniversary of the Establishment of the Department of Geography at the National Central University (1931)
Professor Ding Jinhong, former Director of the Population Geography Committee of the Geographical Society of China, President of the Shanghai Population Association, and a professor at East China Normal University, delivered a report titled "Characteristics and Trends of China's Population Increase and Decrease Differentiation Process."
Assistant Professor Gu Hengyu from NJU delivered a presentation titled "Discussion and Reflection on the Stability of the Hu Line from the Perspective of Talent Mobility," examining the significance of the Hu Line from an innovative perspective.
The roundtable discussion was chaired by Professor Zhu Yu from Shanghai University/Fujian Normal University and Director of the Population Geography Committee of the Geographical Society of China.
This symposium served not only as a tribute to a pioneering geographer and his academic achievements but also as a profound reflection on and outlook for the development of geography in China. Through the opening ceremony, specialized academic reports, and roundtable discussions, participants examined the significances of the Hu Line for China's regional development strategy from historical, practical, and future-oriented perspectives.
Over the past 90 years, the Hu Line has consistently resonated with national development strategies, providing scientific support for regional coordinated development. Looking ahead, research on the Hu Line will continue to gain new vitality in the new era, contributing geographical insights to Chinese-style modernization and offering Chinese solutions for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The symposium was hosted by Nanjing University and Geographical Society of China, organized by School of Geography and Ocean Science at Nanjing University. It brought together over 60 experts and scholars from more than 20 universities and research institutions, including Nanjing University, East China Normal University, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS, Southeast University, Nanjing Normal University, Hohai University, China University of Mining and Technology, and Linyi University, to commemorate this influential geographical discovery.
