White Deer Grotto Academy

白鹿洞书院

A Song-dynasty academy at the southern foot of Lushan, where Zhu Xi lectured and drew up the “Rules of the White Deer Grotto Academy.” Ranked first among the “Four Great Academies of China,” it is quiet and unpretentious.

The White Deer Grotto Academy lies in a valley on the southern side of Five Elders Peak in Lushan, in what is now Lushan City (formerly Xingzi County). It takes its name from Li Bo, a Tang-dynasty recluse who raised a white deer here. The Southern Tang established a school on the site, and in the Northern Song it became one of the “Four Great Academies of China.” During the Southern Song, when Zhu Xi was military governor of Nankang, he rebuilt the academy and drew up the “Rules of the White Deer Grotto Academy,” which became a model for later academies. For the next 800 years, it remained a center for the transmission of Confucianism. The academy is built along a stream and consists of the Hall of Sage Veneration, the Zhu Zi Shrine, the White Deer Grotto (which contains a stone deer), the Imperial Calligraphy Pavilion, the Hall of Moral Principles and a stele gallery. Ancient trees tower around it, and the Guandao Stream runs clear, creating a peaceful setting that is the “cultural foundation” of Lushan. Admission is about 40 yuan and is not included in the Lushan Gate ticket. A visit takes about 1.5 hours. Getting there: the academy is at the foot of the mountain. From Guling Town, drive down to the Lushan South Gate and continue about 20 minutes, or hire a car from Lushan City. Public transport is inconvenient, so it is best to visit on the same day you descend, or combine it with Xiufeng Peak (the peak referenced in Li Bo's waterfall poem) and Guanyin Bridge. Notes: the academy offers guided tours, and it is worth joining one to learn about the academy's rules and history. After rain, the stream runs fast in the valley, so take care.

White Deer Grotto Academy

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