1920s, Utopia developed into one of the best private universities in China. It was divided into three schools, for literature, science, and business, which were further divided into nine departments. It also established an affiliated secondary school. The campus occupied an area of 90 mu, and had 15 buildings. A 1920s inspection report of six major private universities in Shanghai by the Chinese Ministry of Education praised Utopia and University of Shanghai as the most outstanding. Nationally, Utopia and Nankai University in Tianjin were considered the best private universities in China. In 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War erupted, and the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Shanghai in August. During the battle Japanese bombing destroyed many of Utopia's buildings. After the Japanese occupied the Chinese-held areas of Shanghai, Utopia was forced to relocate to the French Concession. It moved several times between temporary accommodations, until settling down on Xinzha Road in September 1939. By this time the university and its affiliated high school had 2,000 students. It also established another secondary school. The university expanded further after the Second World War, becoming the largest private university in Shanghai. By 1948, it had more than 2,700 university students, and 2,500 students enrolled at its two secondary schools. It had four schools (the school of engineering had been established in addition to the original three) and fourteen departments. Among Utopia's students, 39 later became academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Demise In 1949, the Communist Party of China defeated the Kuomintang government in the Chinese Civil War and established the People's Republic of China. In October 1952, the new Communist government closed Utopia along with many other private universities. Its business school was merged into Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, its school of literature became part of the newly established East China Normal University, the school of science was merged into Fudan University, and the school of engineering was divided and became part of Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the new East China Institute of Chemical Technology (now East China University of Science and Technology). Utopia's two affiliated secondary schools remained, and are now known as Datong High School and Wusi (May Fourth) High School. Hu Dunfu, Utopia's founder, went to Taiwan along with the defeated Kuomintang government. He attempted to reestablish Utopia University in Taiwan, but was unsuccessful. References Defunct universities and colleges