Dongshan Academy Tourist Area

The Dongshan Academy Tourist Area, affiliated with Dongshan School, is situated within the Dongshan New Town of Xiangxiang City. It borders Shaoshan to the north, connects with Loudi to the west, and adjoins Changsha to the east. The Shanghai-Kunming High-speed Railway, Hunan-Guizhou Railway, Shanghai-Ruili Expressway, National Highway 320, and Loudi-Xiangxiang high-grade highway traverse the area, while the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and National Highway 107 are also within close proximity.

Dongshan Academy was initially built in 1895, known at the time as "Dongshan Classical School," marking the beginning of the abolition of the imperial examination system and the rise of new-style education, thereby pioneering Hunan's modern education. Over the years, it changed names, from "Dongshan Academy" to "Dongshan Higher Primary School," among others. On September 10, 1958, Chairman Mao Zedong personally inscribed the school's name as "Dongshan School," which has been used ever since. In November 2003, Comrade Hua Guofeng wrote the school motto, "Honesty, Sincerity, Diligence, and Frugality." The academy's architecture embodies typical characteristics of Hunan's academy culture, with its layout reflecting the Confucian philosophy of "harmony between rites and music." It adopts a spatial composition of central axis symmetry, multiple courtyards, and interconnected spaces, creating a sense of profound tranquility. The two main gates for entering and exiting the academy are positioned according to the "Qian" and "Kun" trigrams of King Wen's Bagua (Eight Trigrams), symbolizing that students graduating from Dongshan Academy will achieve great success and make a resounding impact in the world. This site marks the first stop for the great leader Mao Zedong to embark on his revolutionary journey after leaving Shaoshan. It was also where founding generals Chen Geng and Tan Zheng, prominent activist Yi Lirong, internationally renowned poet Xiao San, distinguished scholars Xiao Zisheng and Huang Guozhang, revolutionary martyrs Mao Zeqin and Yang Youlin, among other valiant figures, pursued their studies. During the school's centennial celebration, the Ministry of Education (then known as the State Education Commission) sent a congratulatory letter, praising that "Dongshan School has made special contributions to the Chinese revolution."

Dongshan Academy is now a national key protected cultural relic unit, a national patriotic education demonstration base, and a key node on the red tourism route "The Path of Mao Zedong's Growth." In 2011, it was included in the List of National Classic Red Tourism Scenic Spots, and in 2012, it was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

Chinese source: xiangtan.gov.cn