This photo, taken in 1920s, captures a real scene of a German doctor performing an X-ray examination for a patient in Nantong.
Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a native of Nantong, was a pioneering industrialist, educator and philanthropist in modern China. Demonstrating remarkable foresight, he introduced the first medical X-ray machine to Nantong from Germany, facilitating Sino-Western medical exchange and creating a lasting legacy.
He established Nantong's first modern hospital, medical school, and nursing school, sending top students abroad and recruiting international experts like German physician Dr. Dred Schel Demann, who directed the hospital and taught Western medicine.
Under the motto “Bridging Chinese and Western Medicine to Expand Philanthropy,” Zhang fostered a spirit of charity and cross-cultural exchange, laying a foundation of professionalism and internationalization.
Today, the School of Medicine at Nantong University—originating from the Private Nantong Medical Specialized School founded in 1912—stands as one of China's earliest and most distinguished medical institutions.