Hengshan Academy

Hengshan Academy

Hengshan Academy is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

In Xizhou Town, Wafangdian City, there lies a well-preserved complex of Qing Dynasty architecture. This is the Hengshan Academy, built in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty, which corresponds to 1844 AD. From the bustling Xizhou Old Street, one can see from afar this cluster of buildings composed of gray-black and crimson hues, exuding a distinct sense of solemnity and simplicity. The grey bricks, dark tiles, and soaring upturned eaves of the academy radiate a rich cultural atmosphere that still permeates the ancient town and the lives of its residents. It stands as a profound cultural legacy within the old town. Its presence is like a key that unlocks the historical and cultural gateway of Fuzhou, quietly fulfilling its unique mission through the long river of history.

Hengshan Academy is one of the earliest academies to appear in the Dalian area and is also the only surviving ancient academy site in southern Liaoning. It was initially proposed by Zhang Juren, the magistrate of Fuzhou, who encouraged local gentry and scholars to donate funds. The site was partly repurposed from the former residence of General Gurmahun, the former commander of the Zhenghongqi City Guard in Fuzhou who had been promoted and transferred elsewhere, combining parts of the official residence with newly constructed buildings to form the academy’s study halls. Since Mount Hengshan to the east of Fuzhou Town is the highest peak within the Fuzhou region, and the academy is the foremost institution of higher learning in Fuzhou, it was thus named “Hengshan Academy.”

Hengshan Academy covers an area of 2,516 square meters, facing south with a northward orientation. It consists of two courtyards. In front of the gate is a screen wall, and on the east and west sides outside the gate stand a stone lion each. Having endured over a century of wind and rain, the lions have lost their original carved details, but their rounded forms still betray their former distinction. They silently guard this tranquil place. The mottled traces of history speak of the clamor and glory it once knew. On either side of the corridor are rooms, and the gatehouse is flanked by three wing rooms on the east and west respectively. The front courtyard served as a teaching space, with a five-bay lecture hall situated centrally in the courtyard, built in the flush-gable style. There are eight wing rooms on both the east and west sides, each with doors at the front and rear. The rear courtyard functioned as accommodation for teachers and students, featuring a five-room main house and eight wing rooms on both the east and west sides. During the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, an additional eleven-room rear hall was built, along with six wing rooms on the east and west sides of the back courtyard.

In April 1985, Hengshan Academy was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Dalian City, and its site remains preserved to this day.

Protected Area: Within the outer wall foundation of the academy’s perimeter wall.

Construction Control Zone: A first-class construction control zone within 20 meters outside the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Liaoning Province