Songyang Academy

嵩阳书院

One of China's four great ancient academies, where Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi taught. Two 4,500-year-old 'General Cypresses' and a Tang stele in the grounds are national treasures.

Songyang Academy is on the south slope of Taishi Mountain, on the northern outskirts of Dengfeng City. It was first built in the Northern Wei dynasty. In the Song dynasty, it became the place where Neo-Confucian masters Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi taught. Together with Yuelu, White Deer Grotto, and Yingtian, it is known as one of the Four Great Academies. In 2010, it was included in the World Heritage List as part of the Historic Buildings of 'The Center of Heaven and Earth.' The academy's buildings are a five-courtyard compound rebuilt in the Qing dynasty. It is modest in scale but simple and serene. Its main highlights are two ancient cypress trees, about 4,500 years old, which Emperor Wu of Han named 'Great General' and 'Second General.' They are among the oldest cypress trees surviving in China. In front stands a 9-meter-tall Tang stele, the Stele in Praise of Sacred Virtue and Responsive Power at the Great Tang Songyang Taoist Temple, written by Li Linfu and inscribed by Xu Hao. It is a masterpiece among Tang steles. The grounds also include a lecture hall, a library tower, and steles from successive dynasties.

Visiting tips: A visit takes about 1 hour. Afterward, you can climb Junji Peak on Taishi Mountain from the trailhead beside the academy (4 to 5 hours round trip), or walk or take a taxi 10 minutes to Zhongyue Temple. Together with Shaolin Temple, this makes a one- or two-day itinerary in Dengfeng. Admission is about 30 yuan. You can also buy a Mount Song combo ticket, or buy tickets through the 'Songshan Shaolin' official WeChat account. Getting there: A taxi from downtown Dengfeng takes about 10 minutes. A taxi from Shaolin Temple takes about 30 minutes. Note: Do not climb or touch the ancient cypresses. During peak season, guides are available to follow, and they make the stories about the cypresses and Neo-Confucianism more engaging.

Songyang Academy

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby