Its predecessors were Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Regions Normal School established in 1954 by Guang Dong Province and Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Teachers’ College established in 1958. After several merges and splits, adjustments and name changes, in 1993, it developed into Qiongzhou College (for three-year education ), a merger of Hainan Tongshi Teachers’ College and Hainan Tongshi College of Education. After many years of construction and development, it was upgraded and renamed into Qiongzhou University (for four-year education) in 2006. In April 2006, Hainan Teachers’ School for Nationalities was merged into Qiongzhou University. The main campus was moved from Wu Zhishan city to Sanya city in 2008.

Currently, QZU has about 1000 faculty members including 605 full-time teachers. 214 teachers are of high academic qualifications and 373 teachers are of masters’ degree or above. Some are enjoying state-council-level special allowances and allowances for excellent provincial experts. Some are elected as national candidates of the “New Century Ten Million Talents Project”, first and second-level candidates of provincial 515 talents project, national excellent teachers and provincial star teachers. More Ph.D supervisors and dual-qualification teachers who have both education qualification and field working experience in enterprises or scientific research institutions also have joined us and contribute to a more prosperous future.

By the first half of the semester of 2013, QZU has 14102 full-time students including 10602 undergraduates, 3458 students of three-year education programs and 70 international students. To raise high level calibers, QZU always adheres to the idea of “Serving to Demands，Mental-Oriented，Combining General Education and Vocational Education, Developing Both Abilities and Moralities，Learning by Doing，Being Innovative and Independent，Being Bold in Assuming Responsibilities” . By highlighting teaching-oriented position and nurturing talents with constant innovative awareness，the university is constantly enhancing its cultivation quality. In recent three years, QZU students won 243 national awards and 684 provincial awards. Students performed outstandingly in different national contests such as the National Mathematical Modeling Contest, Electronic Design Contest，National Tour Guide Contes. 15 QZU students have honorably won the national first prize and 46 for the national second prize.

QZU boasts a group of different bases which are engaged in supporting the development of different disciplines, serving to the needs of scientific research and talents cultivation, promoting the coinheritance and innovation of Hainan ethnic culture and boosting the development of local economy and society. QZU established the following bases and centers in recent years: Research Center of the University of Shanghai Cooperation Organization for regional study, Educational Aid Center of the Ministry of Education, China International Youth Center (Hainan) Sanya Base, Experimental Center for Moral Development Activities of the National Youth, Training Base for talents of Ministry of Civil Affairs and Hainan Social Work, Collaborative Innovation Center of Haina Tourism, Research Center of Hainan International Island Recreational Tourism, Hainan Research Center of Hainan Ethnic Studies，Institute of Hainan Cross-Strait Ethnic Minorities Research, Hainan Literature Research Center, Hainan Academy of Rain Forests, etc. The university undertook 743 scientific research projects including 11 national projects and 303 provincial and ministerial projects. It also won 7 awards for provincial and ministerial Scientific and Technological Advancement and 11 awards for Social Science Achievements.

QZU attaches great attention to giving play to scientific and technological supports, cultural influence and intelligence service and contribute to the development of the local economy and society. In recent years, QZU successively undertook innovative projects on national, provincial, municipal and QZU school level basis , engaged in such programs as “National Teachers Training Program” , “Provincial Teachers Training Program” and National “Social Work Talents Support Program for Remote Poverty-Stricken Areas, Border Ethnic Ares and Old Revolutionary Base Areas” , organized activities of public service for such public international affairs as BRICS Leaders Meeting, Boao Forum for Asia,etc. as well as conducted social practice of college students' bringing culture, technology and healthcare skills to countrysides, introducing science and education, arts and sports, law and health to communities, offering teaching supports by obligation, etc.

As an international island for tourism, Sanya brought special geographical advantages and opportunities to the university. QZU fully applied this “endowment” and  implemented internationalized development strategy of “Running School Openly and Steadily”，carried out international education and cultural cooperations and exchanges and established partnerships with universities of over 30 countries and regions like Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, America, Russia, Austria, Canada, Ukraine, Australia，etc. and achieved multilevel and multi-field cooperation. In April 2008, Qiongzhou University was approved to be one of the only ten “Educational Aid Center of the Ministry of Education” and has successfully held four “High Level Seminar on Tourism Management for Developing Countries” . In 2012, QZU successfully became a member of the University of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At present, QZU is working on the establishment of the permanent site “Sino-Ukrain Presidents Forum”.

In recent years, QZU has been successively granted with the honorary titles of “Hainan Demonstrative University for Running School By Law” , “Hainan 10 Outstanding Universities for Industry-University-Research”, “Hainan Advanced Universities for Cultivating Innovative Scientific and Technological Talents”, “Advanced Unit for National College Students Social Practice”, “National May 4th Flag League Committee”, “Advanced Unit for 10-Year Reform on Socialization of College and University Logistics”,etc.

During the period of “the 12th Five-Year Plan”, QZU will continue to vigorously uphold its motto of “ Illustrious Virtue, Extensive Study, Utmost Endeavors and Earnest Practice” and do the followings: to stick to “people-oriented” educational concept and innovative idea to train students to be creative and applicable all-round talents with excellent morality, intelligence, physique and aesthetic; to run the university with rich connotations, unique characters, lean managements and high quality; to build up an education philosophy of “Spiritual Education, Wisdom Cultivation”; to abide by the management principle of “Managing Mind With Care, Working on Posts With Savvy” ; to stick to the service idea of “ Spiritual Care, Benevolent First ” and to comprehensively implement the following 6 major projects and lay a solid foundation for building up the university into an internationalized, open and unique regional application-oriented brand university.