Born in She County, Anhui Province, Tao Xingzhi (October 18, 1891-july 25, 1946) was one of the greatest educationists, communists and patriots in modern China. He was also one of the top leaders of the Chinese People's Union for Saving the Country and China Democratic League. When he was young, Tao lived in a poverty-stricken area and has witnessed miserable life of Chinese people, esp. that of the peasants who accounted for 80% of the nation’s population, under the suppression of foreign invaders at that time. After graduating from Nanking University as the top student with the highest scores in all courses, Tao set out for the U.S. to further his education. At first, he studied politics in University of Illinois but soon he found that politics offered no help for saving the country, and then changed his major into education. 

Six-year experience abroad let Tao Xingzhi come to realize the sharp contrast between China and developed countries, and drove him to make up his mind to change the situation in China. Tao declined a number of invitations from many famous universities and gave up handsome salaries as a college professor. Instead, he established Xiaozhuang Normal School in the suburb of Nanking to develop educational cause in rural areas. In 1929, Tao was awarded Honorary Doctor of Science by Saint John's University in Shanghai. When he returned to China from Japan in 1939, Tao established Yu Cai School in Sichuan Province for the kids who lost their family in Sino-Japanese War. He picked out those with special talents and trained them to be useful men for the nation. Zhou Enlai, former Chinese premier, once paid a visit to this school and gave a high praise. 

As an educationist, Tao devoted his entire life to the educational cause for Chinese people. Distinct from other mainstream educationists at that time, Tao emphasized life education and advocated that “life education means an education of life, by life and for life”. Because of overtoil, he died of cerebral apoplexy on July 25, 1946 in Shanghai at the age of 55. Chairman Mao praised him as “a great educationist for the people”. In memory of this great man, Tao Xingzhi Museum was built in Shanghai in 1986.