Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT; simplified Chinese: 广东工业大学; traditional Chinese: 廣東工業大學; pinyin: Guǎngdōng Gōngyè Dàxué) is a key state university in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The university offers a wide range of courses in engineering, science, technology, management, liberal arts and law, with major emphasis on the study of engineering. Guangdong University of Technology was formerly known as Guangdong Institute of Technology. Approved by the State Education Commission in June 1995, it merged Guangdong Mechanical College and the east campus of South China Architecture College. Guangdong Institute of Technology was found in 1952 and then merged Central South Institute of Science and Technology in 1961. During the Cultural Revolution, the campus was closed and the school was forced to move to Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan City. The school returned to the Guangzhou campus in 1982, but most of the campus had been destroyed. Guangdong Mechanical College was found in 1956 and also forced to close during the Cultural Revolution. East Campus of South China Architecture College was found in 1956.