Abstract: The modern history of Chinese botany takes 1950 as a crucial turning point, marking the reorganization of previous research institutions under the newly established Chinese Academy of Sciences and the advent of a new era in botanical science. This article chronicles the developments before 1950, beginning with the establishment of the first biology department at a national university by Chi Ping and Hsen-Hsu Hu in 1921. Subsequently, several research institutes were founded, primarily dedicated to the collection and taxonomic study of Chinese flora. These efforts laid the foundation for the compilation of the Flora of China. This historical overview illustrates how Chinese botany, under the leadership of prominent figures, evolved from its inception to a period of flourishing development, and then declined under the impact of war.

Key words: history of Chinese botany, Chi Ping, Hsen-Hsu Hu, Biological Laboratory of The Science Society of China