The meeting place of literati and scholars, Donglin Academy.

Donglin Academy, located in Liangxi District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, is a cultural pearl in the flow of time. It is not only a witness to history, but also a cradle of thought. The academy was founded in the first year of Zhenhe in the Northern Song Dynasty by the Confucian master Yang Shi, and is quietly located at the foot of Turtle Mountain, hence it is also known as "Turtle Mountain Academy". Despite the baptism of war and the changes of history, the spirit of the academy has never been obliterated. In the Ming Dynasty, Donglin Academy ushered in a new glory. Gu Xiancheng and others lectured here, making it a melting pot of thought and a gathering place for scholars. Even if it was ordered to be demolished by Wei Zhongxian, the ideological flame of Donglin Academy still burned, and the political discussions of the Donglin Party at the end of the Ming Dynasty pushed it to the center of the historical stage. The academy covers an area of 13,000 square meters and a building area of 2,800 square meters, like an elegant garden. Entering the academy, the first thing that comes into view is the simple stone archway, symbolizing the solemnity of this cultural holy land. The Pan Pool is quiet and deep, reflecting the surrounding buildings, as if silently telling the long history of Donglin Academy. The buildings such as the Jing She, Li Ze Tang, and Yi Yong Tang are well-arranged, and history and nature coexist harmoniously. This is not only a place of study, but also a spiritual habitat for thinkers and politicians. In the Yanju Temple where the breeze blows, and in the Daonan Temple, it seems that you can still hear the heated discussions of the scholars in the past. The spiritual connotation of Donglin Academy is particularly profound. The couplet "The sound of wind, rain, and reading, all sounds enter the ears; family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs, all matters are concerned" has long surpassed the walls of the academy and has become a motto in the hearts of the people. The influence of the academy lies not only in lecturing, but also in its advocacy of patriotism and sense of responsibility. This academy witnessed the cultural prosperity of the Jiangnan region and became the focus of national politics in the party struggle at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Today, as a national AAAA tourist attraction and a national key cultural relics protection unit, Donglin Academy attracts tourists from all over the world with its unique charm. Walking on the bluestone road of the academy, you seem to be able to travel through thousands of years, feeling the strong scent of books and the wisdom of the ancients echoing in your ears.