Zhang Kaiyuan, whose ancestral home is in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, was born in Wuhu, Anhui province in 1926. As a famous historian, educationist, Honorary Doctor of Laws in Augustana College in America, and Honorary Doctor both in Sōka University and Kansai University in Japan, he once served as the president of Huazhong Normal University from 1984 to 1990. And he was one of the members and conveners in the first and second appraisal groups for History in Office of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee. He established the History Research Institute of Huazhong Normal University and History Research Center of Missionary Universities in China. At present he holds the posts of Senior Professor in Huazhong Normal University and of Honorary Bureau Chief in Institute of Chinese Modern History, devoting himself to studying the history of 1911 Revolution, Chinese bourgeoisie, the history of Chinese chambers of commerce, the history of Chinese missionary universities, as well as the historical documents of Nanjing Massacre.

Representative works:
　　　A Heated Debate Launched on the Eve of the 1911 Revolution, published by People's Publishing House in 1975.
　　　Footprints of a Pioneer: Biography of Zhang Jian, published by Zhonghua Book Company in 1986.
　　　The 1911 Revolution and Modern Society, published by Tianjin People's Publishing House in 1985.
　　　Distanciation and Return: Analysis on Traditional Culture and Modernization of China,published by Hunan People's Publishing House in 1989.
　　　A Collection of Essays on Historical Events Around the Revolution of 1911, published by Huazhong Normal University Press in 1990.
　　　Eyewitnesses to Nanjing Massacre, published by Hubei People's Publishing House in 1995.
　　　A Continuation of the Collection of Essays on Historical Events Around the Revolution of 1911, published by Huazhong Normal University Press in 1996.
　　　From Yale to Tokyo: Evidence for Nanjing Massacre, published by Guangdong People's Publishing House in 2003.
　　　Mission and Rooting: a Collection of Essays on Christianity and Cultural Communication Between East and West, published by Guangdong People’s Publishing House in 2005.
          The History of 1911 Revolution ( Three Volumes), published by People’s Publishing House in 1980 and 1981. Zhang Kaiyuan is one of the editors.