Oldest Academy in China: Charm of Yuelu

#chinatrip Yuelu Academy was one of the four ancient Chinese academies along with Bailudong Academy on Mount Lushan in Jiangxi Province, Yintianfu Academy in Shangqiu in Henan Province and Songyang Academy in Kaifeng in Henan Province. Hunan Yuelu Academy with an area of 21000 square meters is located at the foot of Mount Yuelu in an elegant style, where the architectural buildings are distributed along a central axis, including the Entrance Gate, Hexi Terrace, Main Gate, Second Gate, Lecture Hall and Imperial Book Tower. On the sides of the central axis of the Yuelu Academy are the Study Studio, the Xiangshui Scripture Verification Hall, the Pavilion of One Hundred Springs (Baiquanxuan), the Zhuanshan Memorial Hall, the Chongdao Memorial Hall, the Confucian Temple, the Memorial Hall of Six Honored Guests and the Lianxi Memorial Hall. The entrance gate is topped by a gable roof with a single cornice, above which hangs a plaque with the inscription "Millennial Academy". When you pass by the entrance gate, you will see the Hexi Terrace with the Chinese character meaning "Happiness and Longevity" on the left and right walls, respectively. The main gate is located just behind the Hexi Terrace, above which hangs a plaque with the inscription "Yuelu Academy"б written by Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. Passing by the courtyard from the Main Gate, you will reach the Second Gate. Behind the Second Gate there is a Lecture Hall where the presidents of the academy gave lectures during the Song Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, where important events were also held. In the center of the Lecture Hall there is a lecture platform on which the famous Neo-Confucian master Zhu Xi from the Southern Song Dynasty gave lectures. On the left and right walls of the lecture hall there are steles on which four large Chinese characters written by Zhu Xi are carved, denoting "Fidelity, piety, incorruptibility and purity". To the north of the Lecture Hall is the Xiangshui Scripture Verification Hall. Behind the Lecture Hall is the Imperial Book Tower with a double cornice decorated with yellow glazed tiles.