Qinfeng Academy

Qinfeng Academy

Qinfeng Academy is located at the southeastern foot of Qinfeng Mountain in the ancient city of Sanrao, Raoping County. The mountain was named Qinfeng (literally “Qin Platform”) Mountain because its shape resembles a qin (a traditional Chinese zither) platform. The academy was established on the slightly eastern side of the mountain’s base and was thus named “Qinfeng Academy.” It was first built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795).

The academy faces southeast and is situated northwest, covering an area of four mu, with a built-up area of approximately two mu. It was built along the slope of the mountain. The front hall at the entrance and the two corridors are two-story buildings that form a concave shape when connected. The upper and lower levels of the two corridors each have 10 rooms, serving as dormitories for students. In the middle is a courtyard. The rear hall, due to the higher terrain, has a foundation roughly level with the floor of the front hall’s upper story. Stone steps from the courtyard lead up to the rear hall and the rooms on both sides.

The upper floor of the front hall is named “Yuhua Tower” (Rain-Cultivating Tower), symbolizing the idea of “nurturing talent like spring rain.” Renowned scholars with outstanding academic achievements—including local and non-local juren (successful candidates in the imperial provincial examinations) and gongsheng (tribute students)—served as the heads of the academy, overseeing the education of students to prepare them for imperial examinations. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, when the imperial examination system was abolished, Qinfeng Academy was converted into the Raoping County Higher School.