The unique Pingzhou Academy

Located at the confluence of the Xiao River and the Xiang River, eight miles northwest of the ancient city of Yongzhou, there is a small island called Ping Island. It is surrounded by water on all sides, like two dragons playing with a pearl. The island is full of ancient trees and lush bamboo and banana trees, with a quiet and elegant environment and beautiful scenery. On the island, there is the Pingzhou Academy, which was established in the fourth year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1739). The academy is in the form of a quadrangle, with gray bricks and green tiles, and a sense of age. The Pingzhou Academy is known as one of the four major academies in Hunan, along with Yuelu, Shigu, and Chengnan. The unique and beautiful natural landscape of Ping Island has long attracted people's appreciation. During the Tang Dynasty, Liu Zongyuan was demoted to Yongzhou, where he traveled by boat on the Xiao and Xiang rivers and visited Ping Island. He wrote the poem 'Xiangkou Pavilion, where the two waters of Xiao and Xiang meet'. As soon as you enter the 'Xiaoxiang' gate, you can see an arc-shaped stele forest arranged on the left, with both sides, there are many famous people's handwriting, worth slowly tasting. The Pingzhou Academy is simple and quiet, and some viewing platforms in the style of Han white jade have been added to the back of the academy, which are also very beautiful for taking pictures. To visit Pingzhou Academy on Ping Island, you need to take a boat, which costs 20 yuan for a round trip. Taking photos in Hanfu on the boat is also very harmonious.