Asia-Pacific Center for Leisure Studies, Zhejiang University (abbr. APCL) was co-built by World Leisure Organization, Zhejiang University and Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government on November 16, 2004. It is a specialized institute for international leisure education, leisure research, leisure practice and leisure promotion and strives to cultivate high-level talents in leisure teaching, research and practice, in order to promote ideas of leisure and improve the quality of life. 

In 2007, State Council Office of Academic Affairs approved the establishment of the first domestic doctorate program in leisure studies in Zhejiang University. As a subordinate discipline of philosophy, it mainly relies on Asia-Pacific Center for Leisure Studies to carry out discipline construction, personnel training and academic research of leisure science and began to recruit master and doctoral students in 2008. At present, the discipline of leisure science has three main research directions, including research on leisure theories, research on leisure culture and industry and leisure culture and urban management. To the end of 2016, there are 7 graduated doctors, 14 masters, 6 post-doctors (including 1 German post-doctor in philosophy) and 16 visiting scholars.