Abstract: Ginling Girls’College(GGC) used to be a famous institution in Chinese modern history of higher education. It not only opened girls’ education in China but also greatly contributed to the modernization of higher education in China. The foundation and development of GGC coincided with the violent conflict in Chinese modern culture. From the perspective of the cultural conflict between east and west, GGC introduced into China a great deal of western civilization, which opened the nation's door to new knowledge. From the perspective of the cultural conflict between men and women, the college awakened many Chinese women and trained hundreds of modern women intellectuals, which accelerated the process of women's liberation in China. From the perspective of the cultural conflict between past and present, it introduced into China a modern mode of university, which challenged the traditional education system. The above perspectives of cultural conflict reveals the underlying dynamics of GGC’s success and provides an example for higher education reform in contemporary China.

Key words: Ginling Girls’College (GGC), cultural conflict, cultural conflict between east and west, cultural conflict between men and women, cultural conflict between past and present