Qihoo 360 founder Zhou Hongyi donates RMB 100 million to alma mater Xi'an Jiaotong University

Donation announced at 130th anniversary events

It has been reported that Zhou Hongyi (周鸿祎), founder and chairman of Qihoo 360 (奇虎360), has pledged RMB 100 million (¥100 million/1亿元人民币) to Xi'an Jiaotong University (西安交通大学). The gift was announced at a donation ceremony held in Room 101 of the science building on the university’s Xingqing campus, part of events marking the institution’s 130th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of its westward relocation.

Donor background and alumni ties

Zhou is a high‑profile figure in China’s internet and cybersecurity sectors. He studied at Xi'an Jiaotong University from 1988–1992 (bachelor’s in computer software) and 1992–1995 (master’s in systems engineering), it has been reported. Qihoo 360 became well known in China for its antivirus software and later for mobile and internet services; Zhou’s public support for his alma mater underscores a common pattern of tech entrepreneurs giving back to leading Chinese universities.

Donation context and broader fundraising

The RMB 100 million joins a string of recent gifts to Xi'an Jiaotong as the school celebrates its milestone. Reportedly, an anonymous alumni couple also donated RMB 100 million, Shenzhen-based entrepreneur Meng Zhaoxue donated RMB 13.33 million, and earlier gifts in 2025 included RMB 100 million from alumni Li Zexin and Ning Ge’s family and RMB 30 million from Liu Fengxian and Lu Lina’s family. Such donations come as Chinese universities play a central role in Beijing’s push for domestic innovation and talent development amid tightening global tech competition and evolving trade and sanction dynamics. Why does this matter? Large alumni gifts both bolster campus resources and signal the deepening ties between China’s private tech sector and its higher‑education institutions.