Yuelu Academy
Yuelu Academy
4.5
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4.5
234 reviews
Excellent
102
Very good
97
Average
30
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Mitch
Hohhot, China125 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
This place is located at the base of Yuelu Mountain. It’s the oldest academy of its kind in China, dating back thousands of years. Confucius taught here at one point and Mao visited here many times in his youth. The academy has an entrance fee of about 45rmb but it’s worth it overall. The space is fairly large, with many little courtyards and rooms to weave through. There are lots of old books and documents to peruse, and there’s a spattering of English signage to get a better understanding of the history there (though not everything is translated). There are some shops there selling various books and trinkets as well that are a step above the usual tourist trash, though you’ll be paying the cost. Overall, it’s a nice walk and a great opportunity to ponder the ever-flowing river of time and history we find ourselves a part of.
Written 29 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada8,617 contributions
Feb 2022 • Solo
This academy is at the base of Yuelu Mountain and is 40 RMB to enter. There are a few signs to explain the buildings significance in English but most parts are only Chinese. I spent about an hour here after doing the Yuelu Mountain hike. There's an exit to Yuelu Mountain from here too if you want to go to the mountain.
The Yuelu Academy is near Hunan University and a snacking street. I was also pleasantly surprised with warm water in the faucets by the toilets! Closest metro is Hunan University Station and the area is pleasant to walk around in. It was a bit overcast and rainy when I went but I still enjoyed it. The temple was closed when I went for the CNY break but you could still walk around the courtyards and hallways.
The Yuelu Academy is near Hunan University and a snacking street. I was also pleasantly surprised with warm water in the faucets by the toilets! Closest metro is Hunan University Station and the area is pleasant to walk around in. It was a bit overcast and rainy when I went but I still enjoyed it. The temple was closed when I went for the CNY break but you could still walk around the courtyards and hallways.
Written 2 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,626 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
On this visit we studied the trees of this over 1,000 year old, prestigious Chinese academy, founded in the year 976. The awesome, tangled big trees in Yuelu Academy are the artwork of nature.
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kalebsmith
Pingxiang, China5 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
I was really struck by this place, trying to imagine what school was like there about 900 years ago. Getting lost, trying to find a class, seeing a drinking buddy in the crowded hallway, getting scolded for talking about girls during writing class. As different as it is from my own school, separated by great span of centuries and distance, I know that some parts of adolescence will never change...
I snuck up the steps to a part of the school no longer open to tourists. The many guards live on campus, apparently in the old dorms. I sat in a straw chair on the hill, overlooking the school, and shared a silent tea and cigarette with an accommodating guard, who seemed to want some company, even if I could only give him my presence.
From my notebook, written by the beautiful little waterfall in the garden in the center of the academy:
"Feeling the history of Changsha's Yuelu Academy, specifically the pictures and ideas of its millenia-old lecturers, I was swept up into thoughts of learning, education, and purpose. What is the purpose of working hard to harness and master the subtle tools of mind if not to create a great work of expression with those tools?A fine sculpture of ideas and culture that will move others to think or feel something deeply. The appreciation of such works is an act of empathy, as the artist, himself, must genuinely feel before he can wrestle that subject up into form. But what a master learns, too, is the proper maintenance of his tools -- keeping his chisel sharp and taking care to preserve it from the elements he knows will rust or degrade it. The level of his ability is kept masterful only with daily disciplined practice, exercise, and continued learning.
The faces of those renowned teachers, posing stoic and refined, were arranged chronologically and spanned over 1,000 years. This reminded me of the short insignificance of me and my century"
I snuck up the steps to a part of the school no longer open to tourists. The many guards live on campus, apparently in the old dorms. I sat in a straw chair on the hill, overlooking the school, and shared a silent tea and cigarette with an accommodating guard, who seemed to want some company, even if I could only give him my presence.
From my notebook, written by the beautiful little waterfall in the garden in the center of the academy:
"Feeling the history of Changsha's Yuelu Academy, specifically the pictures and ideas of its millenia-old lecturers, I was swept up into thoughts of learning, education, and purpose. What is the purpose of working hard to harness and master the subtle tools of mind if not to create a great work of expression with those tools?A fine sculpture of ideas and culture that will move others to think or feel something deeply. The appreciation of such works is an act of empathy, as the artist, himself, must genuinely feel before he can wrestle that subject up into form. But what a master learns, too, is the proper maintenance of his tools -- keeping his chisel sharp and taking care to preserve it from the elements he knows will rust or degrade it. The level of his ability is kept masterful only with daily disciplined practice, exercise, and continued learning.
The faces of those renowned teachers, posing stoic and refined, were arranged chronologically and spanned over 1,000 years. This reminded me of the short insignificance of me and my century"
Written 19 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WiggyRich
Nottingham, UK29 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
A nice place to walk round for an hour, although a tad expensive. Generally quiet compared to Yuelu Mountain.
Note that it's located near the south entrance to Yuelu Mountain, off Denggao Road, not where the map shows it. If you walk over the mountain from the north entrance to the south you won't miss it.
Note that it's located near the south entrance to Yuelu Mountain, off Denggao Road, not where the map shows it. If you walk over the mountain from the north entrance to the south you won't miss it.
Written 22 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindy R
Cedar Crest, NM319 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
Yuelu Academy is a great collection of buildings which were begun in 972AD. Lots of photo opportunities and lots of history.
Written 20 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander-n-BounTEA
Fort St. John, Canada119 contributions
June 2018
I would strongly recommend viewing Yuelu Academy with a tour guide so that you can understand more of the history of the site. It is nestled at the base of Yuelu Mountain, and contains beautiful architecture. As part of Hunan University, students can take classes on Chinese culture through Yuelu Academy. Alternatively, you can pay to tour the academy. The gift shop is a bit expensive, but the stuff is of a high quality and many items were made by students from the College of Design.
Written 6 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Navdib
Bangkok, Thailand74 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
Its a beautiful gem of a place that I found very peaceful and quite perfect for artists, writers, thinkers, poets, and the likes. There isn't anything in there I didn't like but you cannot exit the same way you went in so make sure you visit the Autumn Admiring Pavilion and the Tea House before you step into Yuelu Academy.
Written 11 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean D'Arcy
5 contributions
Aug 2019
I knew nothing in particular about Chinese history when I visited and I still enjoyed myself. Although I did go on a lovely sunny afternoon that had me wishing I could take better photographs. The grounds or gardens were a picture which ever way you looked.
Written 15 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HungryTraveler52
Dongguan, China4 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
This place was a little steep price wise at 50rmb per person but we decided from the reviews... Why not!?
Side note: we had our son with us who is one year one month in a stoller. My wife speaks Chinese and asked the lady at the ticket window if this would be a problem...the lady looked at her and said, "If you were by yourself, yes... But since you have him you will be fine!" I guess fine meant lugging our stoller up and down dozens of stair cases so beware!
Other than that it was very beautiful and not too crowded since we live in China and know never ever ever go to a place on the weekend or on a holiday if you want to keep your sanity!
The history is awesome to read and view and the pictures you can get depending on the seasons turn out amazing!
Enjoy!
Side note: we had our son with us who is one year one month in a stoller. My wife speaks Chinese and asked the lady at the ticket window if this would be a problem...the lady looked at her and said, "If you were by yourself, yes... But since you have him you will be fine!" I guess fine meant lugging our stoller up and down dozens of stair cases so beware!
Other than that it was very beautiful and not too crowded since we live in China and know never ever ever go to a place on the weekend or on a holiday if you want to keep your sanity!
The history is awesome to read and view and the pictures you can get depending on the seasons turn out amazing!
Enjoy!
Written 1 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you learn traditional Kung Fu at this place? If yes what programs, for how long, and what are the costs?
Written 14 March 2017
I did not see anything offering classes, this seemed to be more of a museum than a school now. But maybe the hunan university offers classes?
Written 9 April 2017
Bonjour, votre visite date déjà de quelques années mais peut être pourriez vous m'aider dans mes recherches sur Changsha. Nous y serons juste pour une journée et j'aimerai pouvoir me rendre dans cette université, donc est ce que c'est proche du centre, facile d'accès? Est-ce qu'en parlant uniquement en anglais on peut se débrouiller facilement dans cette ville? Je n'arrive pas à trouver les renseignements pour les touristes de base que nous sommes... merci d'avance pour votre réponse.
Mélodie
Written 18 February 2016
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