Bailuzhou is located in the middle of the Ganjiang River to the east of Ji’an city, stretching 1.5 kilometers in length and 0.5 kilometers in width. It is a spindle-shaped oasis formed by the deposition of silt carried by the river, resembling a white egret. The island is covered with lush forests and tall bamboos, providing shade and serving as a habitat for numerous birds.
The river is filled with clear water, teeming with fish and shrimp, offering abundant food for the birds, hence the island is home to a variety of avian species, with white egrets gathering in groups. The name Bailuzhou is derived from a line by the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, which reads ‘Three mountains half-hidden in the blue sky, two rivers dividing the white egret isle.’ Due to its distance from the shore, despite the island’s higher elevation compared to the riverbank, it appears lower due to visual perspective. However, during floods, while the riverbank is submerged, the island’s heart remains untouched, leading to the saying ‘As the water rises, the white egrets float.’ Bailuzhou Academy: During the Southern Song Dynasty’s Chunyou era, the prefect of Jizhou, Lai, along with Cheng Dazhong, and Northern Song Dynasty philosophers Shao Yong and Zhou Dunyi, as well as Zhu Xi and five other gentlemen, established a temple and founded the Bailu Academy. The academy has nurtured many notable figures, including Wen Tianxiang, Liu Chenweng, and Deng Guangjian. It now serves as the site of Ji’an City’s Bailuzhou Middle School. On the island, the ‘Yunzhang Pavilion’ still stands, reconstructed in the 20th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1952). The ‘Fengyue Tower’ is a three-story pavilion with rich national architectural style, made of brick and wood, reconstructed in the 7th year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1868). These two structures are the main buildings of the Bailu Academy. Other academy sites include the Pan Yue Pond, Zhuangyuan Bridge, and the Ancient Ji Platform. The Bailuzhou Bridge, completed in 1987, connects the island with the city center, making access to the island very convenient. Opening hours are all year round, Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00; closed all day on Mondays.Bailuzhou Academy
Bailuzhou is located in the middle of the Ganjiang River to the east of Ji’an city, stretching[...]
