Gongcheng Academy

Gongcheng Academy

Gongcheng Academy is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

Originally named "Luomeng Academy," Gongcheng Academy is located at the foot of Luomeng Mountain in Tongdao County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. It was first built in 1105 during the Song Dynasty, covering an area of 2,830 square meters, but was later destroyed by fire. In the 57th year of the Qianlong reign (1792), master craftsmen of the Dong ethnic group reconstructed the "Luomeng Academy" on the original site and renamed it "Gongcheng Academy." This is the most well-preserved ancient Dong academy in China.

This ancient academy, having withstood 210 years of history, consists of four parts: the gate tower, study rooms, lecture hall, and connecting corridors. The architectural complex is complete and well-organized, with two-story wooden buildings aligned along a central axis, interconnected by corridors. The structure is enclosed by blue brick walls, and there are two osmanthus trees outside the courtyard. The majestic gate tower with upturned eaves is imposing, while the moss-covered stone steps exude an ancient charm. Ascending the steps, you enter a long corridor inside the academy, flanked symmetrically by six study rooms—each a two-story building containing four lecture halls and one dormitory.

Gongcheng Academy is an immortal monument in the history of the Chinese revolution. In 1934, when the Central Red Army passed through Tongdao during the Long March, an emergency meeting known as the "Tongdao Conference" was held in the academy, leading to the famous "Tongdao Troop Diversion" that saved the Red Army and rescued the Chinese revolution. Since then, the ancient Gongcheng Academy has been forever linked with the great Long March and enshrined in history.

On December 12, 1934, seven senior Red Army leaders held a Politburo meeting to discuss the direction of the march. The original plan was to advance into northern Hunan to join forces with He Long and Chen Yi’s Second and Sixth Red Armies, but the northern route was already heavily blockaded by Chiang Kai-shek’s troops, leaving almost no passage. Mao Zedong strongly advocated advancing into the weakly defended Guizhou. His proposal was eventually adopted by the majority. This led to the Military Commission’s "Most Urgent" telegram and the subsequent "Tongdao Troop Diversion."

At the meeting site, it can be observed that among the seven attendees, only Mao Zedong did not sit on a chair but on a simple bench. The other six were Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Zhang Wentian, Wang Jiaxiang, Bo Gu, and Otto Braun (Li De). In reality, the "Three-Man Group" composed of Zhou, Bo, and Li held the highest leadership at the time.

Beyond the Red Army Tongdao Conference, Gongcheng Academy holds many other layers of significance. The academy was first built during the Song Dynasty but had undergone several destructions and relocations. The current structure was built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 200 years. From the Qing Dynasty to the Republican era, this academy enjoyed great prestige in the tri-border region of Hunan, Guangxi, and Guizhou. The academy faces west and is backed by Luomeng Mountain, with the Gong River extending in front—creating a layout said to hold a "dragon-hidden" geomantic advantage. Particularly striking is a couplet inscribed on the front hall pillars by Weng Xinfu, the county magistrate of Tongdao in the 10th year of the Republic of China (1921). The upper line reads: "Those who graduate from elementary school must go on to middle school, and those who graduate from middle school must go on to university." The lower line reads: "Those from wealthy families should certainly pursue further education, but those from poor families must also find ways to advance their studies."

This couplet invites three interpretations: First, perhaps Magistrate Weng lacked refinement, even unable to compose a properly balanced couplet—but his earnest call for the people to pursue education shines through. Second, he may have been a progressive thinker, deliberately using vernacular style to challenge old ideologies. Third, it could reflect an enlightened local populace, valuing pragmatism, innovation, and inclusiveness. From any angle, this small Gongcheng Academy, nestled in a remote tri-border rural area, seems to embody hidden foresight. And might this foresight be somehow inherently linked to Mao Zedong’s advocacy for westward advance and the democratic decision-making of the entire Tongdao Conference?

Xianxi Town: Jiangkou Township, Guochong Miao Ethnic Township, and Xianxi Town were merged to form Xianxi Town.

Xianxi Town is located in the northwest of Tongdao Dong Autonomous County. It borders Jingwuzhou Town to the east, Guochong Miao Ethnic Township to the west, Diyangping to the south, and Jiangkou Township to the north. From its establishment as a county in the first year of the Chongning reign during the Song Dynasty (1102) until 1958 after the liberation, it served as the county seat. In September 1984, during the restructuring from communes to townships, it merged with Xianxi Commune to form the new Xianxi Town, which remains to this day. The Zhijiang-Liuzhou Railway, National Highway 209, and the Qushui tributary—the Tongdao River—along with the Boyang River, converge here, forming a comprehensive water and land transportation network. The Tongdao Railway Station, Tongdao Storage... Detailed information about Xianxi Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units