GAU evolved from former National Veterinary College which was founded in October of 1946 in Lanzhou and was the only higher educational institution of veterinary in then China. In 1950, it was renamed Northwest Veterinary College and again in 1951 Northwest Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine College. It merged with Gansu Agricultural College and received the name of Gansu Agricultural University in 1958. GAU has been becoming a multi-discipline university with agriculture advantage through generation’s endeavor.

Gansu Agricultural University (GAU) is situated on the picturesque Yellow River bank in Anning District of Lanzhou, covering a total area of 247.48 hectares, including 87.98 hectares of campus and 436,700m2 of floor space. There are 133 practical teaching bases on and off the campus. The library provides a collection of more than 3,188,400 volumes and an e-reading room with 180 computers. Many facilities and infrastructures are provided for physical education and quality development, such as a gymnasium, track and field course, football playground, tennis courts.

GAU consists of 15 colleges and 1 teaching department, which offer 46 undergraduate programs, 43 graduate master programs ,3 postdoctoral research station,3 first level discipline doctor degree authorized units and 4 first level discipline master degree authorized units ,19 doctoral programs, 1 key discipline ant national level, 1 key discipline at Ministry of Agriculture level,12 key discipline at provincial level , a GAU disciplines are Agriculture-oriented and has extended its disciplines to including engineering, arts, science, economics and management, which forming

Today, GAU has a qualified faculty. Among the total faculty of 1,234, 778 are full time teachers, including 115 professors and equivalent, 223 associate professors and equivalent, 236 lecturers and equivalent. There are 1china academy of engineering member and degree committee evaluation member , 3 candidates for first and second level of “Hundreds, thousands and ten thousands talents Programs” ,1candidate for “Support Plans for excellent talent in new Century”. 1 Ministry of Agriculture wheat expert Group member,1 was award honorary title of“Agriculture science and technology popularization pacer ”1was award honorary title of“Gansu science and technology meritorious staff”and 4special engaged science and technology experts for Gansu in GAU faculty .

The enrollment of GAU is expanding progressively. The students come from more than 20 provinces, municipalities and regions. Presently, GAU has a total enrollment of 11,264 undergraduates, 1,359 graduates, 265 doctoral students and 5,600 adult education students. Over the past six decades, GAU has been gradually expanding its capacity and has made substantial improvement in academic level. Over the past 62years, GAU has nurtured over 60,000 talents of various specialties. With high academic level, hard-working style, integrate quality and team work spirit, graduates of GAU have become the experts and backbones in areas of science & technology, education and management, especially agriculture in home and abroad.

Great importance is attached to international academic exchange and cooperation. Currently, GAU has close academic cooperation with more than 20 overseas universities and institutions in U.S.A, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Japan etc. “Sino-US Center for Grassland and livestock sustainable development” has been established by cooperating with U.S.A and other countries. The implementation of International students Joint Education Programs, “Sino-American 1+2+1 Dual Degree Program” make GAU students to have access to international education resources and have chance to go abroad for further study.