In August 1933, Mr. Lin Liru, a famous contemporary educator, founded Guangdong Provincial Xiangqin Normal College, the precursor of South China Normal University and served as the dean for many years.
In March 1935, Xiangqin Normal College was renamed Xiangqin College of Education.
In October 1937, following the total resistance against Japanese aggression
by the whole nation, the institution was forced to relocate to Wuzhou, Tengxian, and Rongxian in Guangxi, as well as Ruyuan and Lianxian in Guangdong, among other places. It relocated ten times over nine years until the victory of the war.
In September 1938, Xiangqin College of Education separated from Xiangqin University and transformed into Guangdong Provincial College of Education.
In September 1939, its name was changed into Guangdong Provincial Liberal Arts College.
In November 1946, the college returned to its original site at Shiliugang and resumed classes.
In October 1950, it was renamed Liberal Arts College of Guangdong.
In June 1951, with the approval of the Ministry of Education of the Central South Military and Political Committee, the Liberal Arts College of Guangdong, the Teachers College of the National Sun Yat-sen University and the Education Department of the Private Southern China United University were incorporated into a new South China Teachers College.
Between 1952 and 1953, the Russian Department of Southern University, the Education Department of the Private Lingnan University, the National Hainan Normal University, the Education Department of the National Guangxi University, the Geographical Specialties of Hunan University, the Division of Teacher Education at Nanchang University, and Hainan Normal College were incorporated into South China Teachers College, which was then relocated to its current site at Shipai, Guangzhou.
In October 1970, South China Teachers College was renamed Guangdong Normal College.
In November 1977, it reverted to the name South China Teachers College.
In October 1982, it was renamed South China Normal University.