Dongpo Academy

Dongpo Academy is a complex of several traditional buildings in Zhonghe featuring typical Chinese architectural elements such as wooden frames and tiled roofs. The layout includes residential and teaching spaces arranged around open courtyards that reflect how this scholarly institution functioned in daily life.

The academy was founded in the late 11th century and is linked to Su Dongpo, an important poet and scholar who lived here during that time. The building Zaijiutang, which served as the core residential structure, dates from this founding period.

The place is named after the celebrated poet Su Dongpo, whose life and scholarly work are woven into its spaces. Walking through the buildings, visitors can sense how this important figure shaped the intellectual life of the community.

The site is easiest to reach from Danzhou, with bus services being the main way to get there. The best time to visit is during the drier months when the paths are easy to walk and the structures are clear to see.

The name Zaijiutang translates literally to Hall of Wine and reflects that this place was meant not only for serious study but also for social gathering. This naming reveals a different side of scholarly life that visitors often overlook.