Hubei Institute of Fine Arts (HIFA, ; colloquially 湖美, pinyin: Húměi) is an art university in China. It is the only top institution of higher learning in fine arts in central China. It is regarded as one of the best and most selective academies of fine arts in China. Its history dates back to 1920, making it the first private art school in modern China. As one of the three oldest art universities, it is also one of the cradles of higher education of fine arts in modern China. It is located in Hubei Province's capital Wuhan, known as "the thoroughfare leading to nine provinces". Located in Wuhan, the industrial, economic and cultural center of central China, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts is widely regarded as a top academy of multiple disciplines, including watercolor painting, Chinese painting, oil painting, mural painting, mixed media painting, printmaking, sculpture, etc. HIFA has two campuses (Tanhualin campus and Canglongdao campus) and covers more than 488,000 square meters, which hold more than 500 faculty and staff members and more than 7,000 students. History The academy dates back to Wuchang Fine Arts School (), which was founded in 1920 by Jiang Lanpu, Tang Yijing and Xu Ziheng. In 1923, it was renamed Wuchang Specialised School of Fine Arts() and became one of the three oldest art academies in modern China. In 1930, it was renamed Private Wu Chang College of Fine Arts (). In the mid-1930s, the college reached the heyday in terms of size, talent training and academic achievements, and became one of the most important art education bases in China. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Wu Chang College of Fine Arts moved to Jiangjin, Sichuan Province in 1938 and returned to Wuhan after the victory. Despite the great difficulties during the anti-Japanese war, the college reached its another peak of development. The college made tremendous contributions to the establishment and development of the modern art education in China and laid the solid foundation for the art education in PRC. After the founding of PRC in 1949, Wu Chang College of Fine Arts was merged into Central Plains University (), Hubei Education College () and Central China Normal College () successively. In 1977, it developed into an independent college——Hubei Art Academy (), which consisted of the Fine Arts Division and the Music Division. In 1985, with the approval of the then State Education