Yuelu Academy

Yuelu Academy, one of the four greatest academies in ancient China, is situated at the foot of Yuelu Mountain. Yuelu Academy was establisehd more than one thousand years ago and was operated by monks in its earlier period. In 976 AD, Zhu Dong, a prefect of Tanzhou city (ancient name of Changsha), took over the administrative power and handed it to the Confucian scholars. Henceforth and for more than one thousand years, Yuelu Academy has been a divine spot for culture, literature and Confucianism education.

Yuelu Academy is mainly comprised of ten parts：the Main Gate, the Lecture Hall, Lushan Temple Tablet, Yushu Library, Wenchang Pavilion, Six Gentleman Hall, Ten-sacrificial-vessel Hall, Grand Sunlight Platform, the Banxue Building, and the Hexi Platform.

The words Yue Lu Shu Yuan (Yuelu Academy) on the horizontal board of the Main Gate were inscribed by Zhenzong, an Emperor of the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279). From then on, Yuelu Academy became well-known all around the country and students came in an endless stream to study there. On the door posts of the gate are couplets which read, “Wei Chu You Cai, Yu Si Wei Sheng”. This translates to, the Kingdom of Chu, the unique home of talents; the Academy of Yuelu, the very cradle of all. This couplet originates from Chinese classics and it is very appropriate given the talent that has been brought up by the Academy since its establishment.

The Lecture Hall, also called a "Hall of Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity and Chastity", is a core building of the Academy. Located in the heart of the Academy, the Lecture Hall is the most important place for teaching and ceremonies. In the 6th year of Qiandao Reign (AD1168), Southern Song Dynasty, the famous idealist Zhang Shi and Zhu Xi made a joint lecture here -- a first in the Confucian academies of China.

There are also many valuable cultural relics in the Lecture Hall. On the inner walls of the hall are four big Chinese Characters engraved: Zhong (loyalty), Xiao (piety), Lian (honesty) and Jie (integrity). These were written by the great scholar Zhu Xi. Others such as "Uniform and stand as a mark of respect" written by one master of the Qing Dynasty, Ouyang Zhenghuan and the stele "School Regulations" written by master Wang Wenqing of Qing Dynasty are important historical materials to understand the education system of China's Confucian academies.

During a history of more than one thousand years, there have been countless talented students learning here. Especially in the late 19th century and 20th century, it witnessed a great number of patriotic thinkers, politicians, militarists, industrialists and diplomats. In 1903, the academy was converted into an advanced school and was officially renamed Hunan University in 1926. Today, Yuelu Academy, which has undergone restoration, has been listed as a key historical site under state protection. It still shoulders the responsibility of conducting academic research and training professionals.

Transport: Bus NO 202, 913, 902, 305, Lishan special line, Tour line 1st. It takes just about 30 minutes’ ride to the railway station, and one hour to the airport Admission (for reference): 30 yuan/adult Tel:(86)731-88822316 Opening hours: 7:30 - 18:00 (May 1- Oct 31) 8:00 - 17:30 (Nov 1- April 30)