Imperial College

　　The Imperial College, also known as the Confucian Temple or the Academy, is located on the north side of Dongqinglian Street in the city. It was first built during the Song Dynasty but was repeatedly damaged in wars over the following dynasties. It was rebuilt in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1884). In 1962, it was listed as a county-level cultural relics protection unit. The architectural layout of the college includes: a screen wall at the front, with a Pan Pond on either side of the central axis inside the wall, a bridge over the pond, and two memorial archways behind the bridge — the left one named Shengcheng (Holy City) and the right one Xian Guan (Sages' Gate). Next comes the three-bay Star Gate building, with an eastern side gate inscribed “Virtue Matches Heaven and Earth,” and inside are the Local Sages Shrine and the Loyalty and Righteousness Shrine. Further back are the three-bay Ji Gate, flanked by seven-bay Eastern and Western Side Halls, and at the center lies the five-bay Grand Achievement Hall — the main structure — which once hung a large plaque inscribed with “Model Teacher for All Generations.” Behind that is the three-bay Chongsheng Shrine. On the west side of the college lies a separate courtyard. This area features a front entrance gate, a three-bay ceremonial gate behind it, a three-bay Minglun Hall in the center, and a Jingyi Pavilion at the back. There are also more than 40 other buildings within the compound. The site was damaged during the Republican era. In 1958, it was successively occupied by various institutions including the Material Supply Bureau, Health Bureau, Agricultural Machinery Company, Salt Industry Company, and Chengguan Minsheng Office. The Grand Achievement Hall was demolished in 1970. Currently, no original buildings from the college remain.

　　Source: Huaiyang Government Website