Yuyan Academy

Yuyan Academy

Yuyan Academy, is located at the foot of Mount Luofeng, Luogang Street, Huangpu District, Guangzhou. Originally built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), it exists for more than 800 years. It is also one of the oldest and best-preserved academies in Guangzhou. In November 2008, Yuyan Academy and Luofeng Temple (including Zhong Yuyan’s Tomb, Grand Ancestral Hall of the Zhong Clan, Sixth Ancestral Hall of the Zhong Clan, Title-granted General’s Temple, Houxian Platform, Jinhua Temple, Zhaoyin Pavilion, Shangao Shuichang Pavilion, Tianqu Yunlu Memorial Arch and Wenchang Temple) were enshrined on the 5th List of Guangdong Cultural Relics Protection Units. Yuyan Academy covers a total area of 1,868 square meters. It is built on the mountain with a majestic look. The building features well-proportioned arrangement, compact structure and exquisite design, and pavilions are connected. There are meandering paths, winding corridors, ponds, waterside pavilions, and waterfalls distributed in the Academy, exquisite and elegant. There are four famous attractions of Luofeng in history- “Moonlight Over Mountain House”, “Plum Viewing in East Pavilion”, “Gazing at Spring from Jade Screen”, “Babbling Brook Flowing Over Rocks”, as well as “Jade Seal Looking Afar”, “Fragrant Pomegranate Pervading the Stream”, etc.

Yuyan Academy also complements “Snowy Plum Blossoms in Luogang”, and they constitute a gorgeous attraction with a harmonious integration of cultural landscape and natural landscape. From the Ming Dynasty onwards, it became well-known and attracted a lot of officials and intellectuals. There are many precious plaques and stone inscriptions, e.g. the plaque with “Yuanfei Yuyue” by Han Yu, the plaque with “Zhongxiao Lianjie” by Zhu Xi and Wen Tianxiang’s poems, the couplets of Hai Rui and the plaque with inscription by the prince of Hengyang, Zheng Banqiao’s bamboo carvings and Zhang Zhidong’s poem tablet, etc. Since the founding of the PRC, Zhu De, Tao Zhu, Guo Moruo and foreign leaders and friends have also traveled here.

Today, Yuyan Academy is a unique cultural building that integrates academy, ancestral hall, temple and garden. It is a true gem of Lingnan (southern China) architecture and a famous cultural tourism destination.