Founded in 1915 as the Tsing Hua Journal, the Journal of Tsinghua University holds a distinguished place in Chinese academia as one of the nation's first and most representative university journals, and the earliest to bear both a university's name and the title "Journal." After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the journal resumed publication in 1955 as a multidisciplinary science and technology periodical. Its scope expanded in 1986 with the launch of the Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) was founded, leading the original science and technology edition to be renamed the Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology). In 1996, Tsinghua Science and Technology, an English-language journal was introduced, creating a complementary suite of publications that advance the university's global academic mission.
This year, the Journal of Tsinghua University celebrates its 110th anniversary. To honor its legacy, we present an overview of its first century. Over the past decade, the three journals have built upon this legacy with unwavering dedication, and their key milestones are summarized as follows.
Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences)
The Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), an authoritative journal recognized in the 2022 AMI Evaluation, is a leading publication in its field. A recipient of the National Social Science Fund, it is also part of the Ministry of Education's Project of Famous Journals. It is indexed in major databases including the National Social Science Literature Center (CASS), CSSCI, and the Peking University Chinese Core Journals, and serves as a key source for institutions like the Renmin University of China Information Center.
The journal has been consistently honored with prestigious awards. Recent distinctions include consecutive "Most Popular Journal" titles from CASS (2016-2024), and "Excellent" ratings in the National Social Science Fund assessment from 2020 to 2023. It also holds top-tier "National Authoritative Journal" and "Authoritative Journal in Beijing" designations.
The Tsinghua Journal-Parkson Best Article Award was established in 2011 to mark the university's centennial and has been conferred six times as of 2024. This independent academic prize, funded by the editorial department of the Journal of Tsinghua University through a donation from the Lion Parkson Foundation (Lion Group, Malaysia), aims to advance basic research, address major practical issues, foster academic innovation, and uphold scholarly traditions. The winning articles are rigorously selected from those published in the Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), supporting the development of a distinct Chinese academic discourse system in the humanities and social sciences, promoting scholarly innovation and exchange, and enhancing the quality of academic publications.
Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology)
Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology) is a multidisciplinary engineering journal by Tsinghua University. Operating as an open access publication, it is widely indexedin leading databases including EI Compendex, Scopus, the CSCD, and Peking University's "Chinese Core Journals Overview." The journal holds a high academic reputation, underscored by major national awards such as the China Publishing Government Award (Journal Award, Nomination Award), the National Journal Award, and the National Top 100 Newspapers and Periodicals award. It has also been consistently recognized as one of the 100 Outstanding Academic Journals in China, a China Premium Science and Technology Journal, and an Outstanding Science and Technology Journal of Chinese Universities.
The journal focuses on critical engineering fields, including electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering, as well as energy and environment--areas where Tsinghua University holds particular strength. Publishing around 200 papers annually, the journal aims to feature high-level research with theoretical innovation, engineering leadership, and practical application. Its influence consistently ranks among the top three comprehensive engineering journals in China's major evaluation systems. To promote the principle of "writing papers on the soils of the motherland," the journal actively curates special issues and columns on national megaprojects, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Baihetan Hydropower Station, and the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) as well as key research topics like smart power and communication systems. It also highlights Tsinghua's distinctive innovations, such as rock-filled concrete. Its content strategy has drawn media recognition; Science and Technology Daily noted that by organizing topics like "Intelligent Construction—Baihetan and Wudongde Hydropower Stations," and “Key Technologies in the Operation and Maintenance of FAST”, the journal is "exploring ‘open-door' management for university journals." In 2024, this approach earned it a place in the "Cases of STM Journals Serving High-Quality Innovation and Development."
Tsinghua Science and Technology
Tsinghua Science and Technology is indexed in leading international and domestic databases, including SCIE, Scopus, EI, CSCD, and Peking University's Chinese Core Journals. It holds a 2024 SCI Impact Factor of 3.5, ranking it in the Q2 quartile across three JCR categories: Computer Science, Information Systems; Computer Science, Software Engineering; and Engineering, Electrical & Electronic. It is classified as a Tier 2 journal in computer science by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its sustained influence is reflected in its selection for the "China's Excellent Academic Journal of International Influence" in the 2025 CNKI international citation r The Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), an authoritative journal recognized in the 2022 AMI Evaluation, is a leading publication in its field. A recipient of the National Social Science Fund, it is also part of the Ministry of Education's Project of Famous Journals. It is indexed eport (placing it in the TOP 5%~10% of Chinese academic journals), consecutive top honors in CNKI's annual reports from 2023 to 2025, and inclusion in key national and municipal development plans, including Beijing's 2025 "Supporting the Construction of High-Level International Sci-Tech Journals" project. Earlier recognitions include the Nomination Award for the 4th China Publishing Government Award (2018).
The journal's international academic influence has been growing steadily. In 2023, it achieved an Impact Factor of 6.6, ranking in JCR Q1 and CAS Q1, positioning it among the world's leading journals in its field. Following over a decade of focused development, it has gained broad recognition from scholars in information science across the world. The journal's international submissions continue to rise, and its readership now spans over 130 countries and regions, establishing it as a key international platform for sharing Chinese information science research globally.
A century-long legacy is but the opening chapter; the torch of scholarship burns ever onward. The Journal of Tsinghua University will remain true to its founding mission, continuing to prioritize academic excellence, spotlight cutting-edge research, and publish groundbreaking work. By supporting talent, leveraging technology, and expanding our global engagement, we aim to amplify the voice of Chinese scholarship worldwide. We are equally committed to fostering a research culture grounded in integrity and ethics. With this renewed focus, we are ready to contribute our strength to building a world-class academic journal system for this new era of knowledge.
