Songyang Academy is a famous ancient higher education institution in China, one of the Four Great Academies of ancient China, a part of the historical architecture group in the World Cultural Heritage site, a key national cultural relic protection unit, located at the southern foot of Mount Song in Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. Songyang Academy has a simple and elegant architectural style, with five main buildings on the central axis and complete corridors. Because of its unique architectural nature for Confucian education, Songyang Academy is known as the "specimen" for studying ancient Chinese academy architecture, educational system, and Confucian culture.
The Songyue Pagoda is a 15-story brick pagoda with a polygonal plan and a height of 37 meters. It consists of a base, tower body, 15 layered eaves, and a finial. The tower body is divided into upper and lower parts. The upper part has four entrances leading to the central chamber. The lower part is plain without any decoration. Above the tower body is a layered eaves that gradually curves inward, forming a smooth parabolic shape. The finial consists of a base, lotus petals, a stupa, an upturned lotus, a wheel, and a gem. There is an underground palace beneath the pagoda. The Songyue Pagoda is the oldest surviving brick pagoda in China, reflecting the process of cultural exchange and integration in architecture between China and foreign countries. It has great value in terms of structure, form, and has had a significant influence on later brick pagoda architecture.
According to legend, the temple was built in the 14th year of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty (71 AD). The temple is located in the beautiful scenery of Mount Song and is one of the famous Buddhist temples in the world. In 1987, the ancient temple was rebuilt, with a restored area of over 60,000 square meters and over 5,000 square meters of restored halls. Forty-seven sculptures of deities were also repaired.
Huishan Temple is located at the southern foot of Jicui Peak, 6 kilometers north of Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. It was first built during the period of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (471-499 AD), and is the main ordination center for monks in the ancient Songshan area. It is known as one of the four major temples in Songshan, along with Shaolin Temple, Fawang Temple, and Songyue Temple.
