The Royal Liver Building, St George’s Hall, Liverpool Town Hall, the Cunard Building and the Victoria Gallery & Museum will be illuminated to mark the 20th anniversary of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) – an innovative partnership between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University in China.
From 19 – 21 May, the iconic Liverpool buildings join landmarks across the globe including the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York’s Times Square, the Shaanxi Information Mansion, a prominent skyscraper in the city of in Xi’an, as well as on campus at XJTLU in Suzhou, China. Also in May, from 29 – 30 May, a famous landmark in Suzhou, the Gate to the East, will be illuminated.
Each of these landmarks will be illuminated in XJTLU’s signature blue, symbolising global connection and celebration. Together, the ‘Light up the World’ illuminations form part of a wider programme of activities marking two decades of rapid growth, educational innovation and international collaboration between China and the UK.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, says: “We are incredibly proud of all that Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) has achieved over the last 20 years. One of the first Sino-UK joint ventures, it has grown to become one of the most recognised and successful transnational ventures globally.
“Not only that, but the success of XJTLU has brought significant economic and cultural gains to the Liverpool City Region, both through the students we welcome here each year and through the connections fostered with Suzhou and the wider region. I am delighted that these iconic buildings across our city will be illuminated in celebration of this milestone year.”
Also, this week, a delegation from the University will travel to China. There, the University of Liverpool’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Jones; Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, Professor Gavin Brown; and Dean for Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Professor Simon Jones, will present XJTLU with a bronze sculpture of a Liver Bird.
Created by Shanghai based artist Ye Qing, the artwork uses the symbol synonymous with the city to represent East and West, past, present, and future.
Other highlight activity to mark this milestone includes:
Students, alumni, academic staff and those instrumental in the University’s foundation have shared their personal highlights and memories – tracing XJTLU’s journey from its earliest beginnings to its ambitions for the future.
On 1 April 2026, XJTLU was granted the Freedom of the City, the city’s highest civic honour. This prestigious award recognises individuals or organisations that have made exceptional contributions to the city’s life or reputation.
Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “As XJTLU marks its 20th anniversary, we are not simply celebrating the growth of a young university.
“We are reflecting on a journey of continuous exploration, deliberate choices, and renewal. Over the past two decades, XJTLU has developed from a pioneering joint venture into a distinctive institution that connects global resources, responds to emerging talent needs, and continually rethinks the purpose and form of future education.
“We have developed our 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 models, and are now moving towards a 4.0 future-oriented lifelong learning and innovative social ecosystem model.
“What makes me most proud is not only what we have built, but how we have built it: through collaboration between the University of Liverpool, Xi’an Jiaotong University, our students, staff, alumni, and partners in industry and society.
“Together, we have moved beyond a traditional transnational education model towards a more integrated, future-oriented university that seeks to connect education, research, industry, and society in meaningful ways.
“As we enter our third decade, our task is not to repeat the past, but to keep reimagining the future. In an age shaped by AI and rapid social change, I believe XJTLU must continue to pioneer new models of learning, innovation, and global cooperation, and contribute not only to educational and academic, economic and industrial development, but also to a more open, resilient, and sustainable social ecosystem. The past 20 years have exceeded expectations; the next 20 should matter even more.”
Related posts:
I Am Team GB: Six free Liverpool region events for sports fans
Council gives green light for six concerts a year at Anfield
New designs revealed to revamp Liverpool’s Lime Street
Cultural events generate more than £85 million for Liverpool economy
Terracotta Warriors make World Museum most visited outside of London
Open Culture launches crowdfunder to support Liverpool’s LightNight
