Longquan Academy in Jingmen

Longquan Academy in Jingmen

Longquan Academy in Jingmen is a cultural heritage site protected by Hubei Province and a classic red tourism destination.

Longquan Academy is situated within Longquan Middle School in Jingmen City. Constructed in the 19th year of the Qianlong reign (1754) by Shu Chenglong, the prefect of Jingmen, who funded its establishment on the site of an old private school, the academy features three halls and four wing rooms. Several springs emerge from the ground near the lotus pond, inspiring its name, "Longquan Academy." It was renovated in the 6th year of the Daoguang reign (1826) and the 6th year of the Tongzhi reign (1867). Key structures include the Yude Hall, Xixin Hall, Dongshan Thatched Cottage, Chunhua Pavilion, Qiushi Pavilion, Jingye Studio, Qunle Studio, Jichang Pavilion, and Huixin Pavilion. The campus is adorned with small bridges, flowing water, and lush pines and cypresses, creating a picturesque garden-like setting. In the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886), additional buildings such as the Wenming Tower and Chimu Tower were constructed. With their upturned eaves and golden splendor, these additions further enhanced the academy’s grandeur. It was later converted into Longquan Middle School. Today, surviving structures like the Wenming Tower and nearby scenic spots such as Wenming Lake remain beautifully preserved, blending antiquity and charm in a painting-like landscape.

Within Longquan Academy are the White Crane Pavilion (originally named Listening to the Spring Pavilion), Xixin Pavilion, Yude Hall, Dongshan Thatched Cottage, Chunhua Pavilion, Qiushi Pavilion, Jingye Studio, Lequn Studio, and Fangtang Study. Looking up toward the hillsides of Elephant Mountain from the academy, one can see the Yangzhi Pavilion and Guande Pavilion. On the rear slopes of Longquan are the Shrine of the Spring God and the Western Hills Shrine, which face distant Yushan Mountain. On Yushan stands the Gan Yu Pavilion, while the even higher Bailong Mountain is home to the Bailong Temple, Lin Cang Pavilion, and Han Pavilion. Together, these are known as the "Ten Pavilions of Longquan."

Four clear springs gush forth at the eastern foot of Elephant Mountain in Longquan. These springs converge into Wenming Lake, then flow into Zhupi River, traverse the city, and eventually join the Han River. These are the renowned "Four Famous Springs of Elephant Mountain" in the Jianghan region: Long, Meng, Hui, and Shun. Meng Spring is named after the original Meng Mountain (the former name of Elephant Mountain). Hui Spring emerged later than Meng Spring and is a warm spring, hence considered more "beneficial" than Meng Spring, leading to its name. In the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1740), Shu Chenglong, the prefect of Zhizhou, built the Lailong Stone Bridge over the Zhupi River. While quarrying stone near farmland between Meng Spring and Hui Spring, he discovered another spring and unearthed a stele inscribed with a poem from the Xining era of the Southern Song Dynasty by Lü Yuan, the prefect of Jingmen: *“The spring’s abundant flow works deep grace, / Through stone channels, a thread to the sea’s base. / When harvests thrive and rains fall in season, / Calm winds and clouds guard the White Dragon’s palace.”* Based on the final line, Shu Chenglong named this spring "Longquan" (Dragon Spring). Shun Spring, located in the Laolaizi Villa, was named to honor Laolaizi, a renowned filial son. Laolaizi Villa was the estate where Lao Laizi, a famous philosopher and founder of Taoism during the Spring and Autumn period, lived in seclusion, farming to support his parents. It is one of the "Three Terraces and Eight Scenic Spots" in Jingmen’s history. Covering 0.25 hectares, the villa was opened to the public in 1993 after a 3.55 million yuan investment. It includes a main hall, side halls, and east and west gates, with wax figures depicting the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, such as "Lao Laizi Entertaining His Parents with Colorful Clothes" and "Filial Piety Moving Heaven." It serves as a site for Laozi studies and traditional moral education for citizens.

The Lu Fuzi Ancestral Hall, also known as the Lu Wen’an Ancestral Hall, is where Lu Jiuyuan, a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and educator of the Southern Song Dynasty, lectured in Jingmen. Rebuilt in 1993 on the foundation of a Qing Dynasty-era stone-and-timber courtyard structure from the Qianlong reign, the project cost 1.217 million yuan. The hall now houses exhibits on notable historical figures from Jingmen and the Zhang Zizhong Memorial Hall. The nearby Bonsai Garden, established in 1993 on the ruins of the Tang’an Ancient Temple and Yizhi Garden, covers 1 hectare and consists of 15 sets of Qing-style imitation buildings with gray tiles, white walls, and red pillars, including pavilions, towers, corridors, and terraces. It serves as a venue for bonsai production, large exhibitions, and public leisure.

The Site of the First Representative Conference of the Communist Party of China in Jingmen County is located on the north shore of Wenming Lake, at the foot of Elephant Mountain in Longquan Subdistrict Office, Dongbao District, Jingmen City.

After the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China in July 1922, a group of Jingmen natives who had joined the CPC while studying elsewhere were dispatched by the Party organization to return to Jingmen. They promoted Marxism-Leninism, recruited new members, and established local Party organizations. In the winter of 1922, Hu Mengping was sent back to Jingmen by Dong Biwu of the Wuhan District Executive Committee to recruit Sun Fengzhou and Yang Xudong as CPC members. In September 1923, the CPC Shiqiaoyi Group in Jingmen was formed, with Sun Fengzhou as the leader. In 1925, Zhang Ruluo, a student at Wuhan Advanced Normal School and a CPC member, taught at Longquan Middle School, secretly organizing student movements. He introduced progressive students Du Youshou, Qiu Lin, and Zhang Junzhi to the Party and established the CPC Longquan Middle School Group. In April 1926, he also recruited progressive students Wei Shiyun, Liu Jihan, and others into the Party and formed the CPC Chengguan Branch Committee of Jingmen County.

As Party organizations were established across Jingmen, the First Representative Conference of the CPC Jingmen County was held in December 1926 at the gatehouse of Chengguan Higher Primary School (Longquan Middle School). Attendees included Liu Dingjia, Li Mingyang, Li Wenxuan, He Dingyuan, Huang Xiaoyu, Zhang Yunmei, Li Tingbi, and Wang Jiehua. The conference resolved that the central task for the present and immediate future was to expand the Party organization and mobilize members to go to rural areas and factories to actively lead workers’ and peasants’ movements. The CPC Jingmen County Committee was established, and the Hubei District Executive Committee of the CPC appointed Hu Mengping as the committee secretary.

The Site of the First Representative Conference of the CPC Jingmen County (Longquan Academy) was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by Hubei Province by the People’s Government of Hubei Province in March 2008.

Longquan Subdistrict: Longquan Subdistrict, Dongbao District, Jingmen City, Hubei Province

The seat of Longquan Subdistrict Office is located on Fuqian Street, with a population of 84,898 and an area of 26 square kilometers. It governs 14 residential committees: Nanmen, Nantai, Taying, Longshan, Tuanyi, Tumen Lane, Ximen, Fengtai, Qianfo Cave, Bailong, Jinxiuhe, Baiyunlou, Beimen, and Hongtu. … More details about Longquan Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Hubei Province