Anling Academy

Anling Academy

“Yuelu in the north, Anling in the south.” Anling Academy is located just across from a thousand-year-old ancient camphor tree and is only a five-minute boat ride away. Viewed from the river, the academy resembles a solitary and proud little island, inviting quiet appreciation of its unique charm. Disembark from the boat, cross a small bridge, beneath which lies a crystal-clear lake, and you’ll arrive directly at the entrance of the academy.

The most common structures within the courtyard are pavilions, terraces, towers, attics, verandas, and halls. A series of archways lead to several pathways, making it feel like wandering through a maze. Anling Academy is an architectural complex that combines sightseeing, leisure, residence, trees, flowers, plants, and ponds. The garden is filled with blooming flowers, all vying for brilliance.

Anling Academy is situated on a standalone island within the Bianshui Scenic Area, covering an area of 50,000 square meters with a built-up area of 6,000 square meters. The academy was originally built during the Song Dynasty and named after Anling, an ancient county of Yongxing. In the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1731), Liu Lingsheng, the then-county magistrate, expanded the academy. At its peak, it became the foremost academy in southern Hunan and earned the reputation of “Yuelu in the north, Anling in the south,” standing as a leader for over three hundred years. In the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (1902), the academy was converted into a secondary school and was destroyed by war in the late Qing Dynasty. In 2006, Mr. Cao [0] from Shenzhen Yuanheng Investment Co., Ltd. invested 250 million yuan to rebuild Anling Academy. The academy features a classical garden architectural style inspired by Suzhou gardens, with numerous famous and ancient trees spread throughout the grounds. Pavilions, terraces, towers, pavilions, and rockeries complement each other beautifully. Anling Academy is an important symbol of Yongxing’s talent and cultural richness. It is a non-profit private non-enterprise organization aimed at promoting Chinese culture and Hunan regional culture, hosting various cultural and economic academic forums, supporting calligraphy, art creation, collecting precious books, and conducting academic, economic, and cultural seminars. It serves as both an elegant gathering place for elites in culture and economics, and a spiritual home for literati and artists.

Location

A standalone island within the Bianshui Scenic Area, Yongxing County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province

Source: County Tourism and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau