Qiongtai Academy is renowned as the setting of the Cantonese opera ‘Searching for the Academy’. Upon entering the academy, one can see frangipani trees lining both sides. Frangipani, also known as plumeria, features pure white petals and a light yellow center, exuding an elegant and dignified appearance, resembling egg whites enveloping yolks, hence the name.
The main building of Qiongtai Academy, ‘Kui Xing Lou’, is a two-story structure with green tiles, red corridors, and white walls. Inside the academy, there are statues of Zhang Yuesong, the academy’s principal and a top scholar, and Xie Bao, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. The academy houses two small exhibition halls and a small museum, which display a vast collection of photos from ‘Searching for the Academy’ and detailed historical materials, showcasing the three-hundred-year development history of Qiongtai Academy and the educational history of Hainan. Qiongtai Academy was originally established during the Qing Kangxi period and served as a prestigious institution of higher learning in Qiongzhou during the Qing Dynasty. It is believed to have been built by later generations in memory of the Ming Dynasty scholar Qiu Jin. This place has nurtured a group of literati and is a famous historical site in Hainan. Currently, Qiongtai Academy is located within the Qiongtai Normal School. Opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00, all year round; the academy is closed all day on Mondays, except for public holidays. A must-see tip about the story of ‘Searching for the Academy’: It is said that in the past, a scholar named Zhang fell in love with a maidservant from the Qiongzhou government. Enraged, the government official severely punished the maidservant, who fled to the academy for help. The official sent people to pursue her, but Xie Bao, the academy’s principal, stood up for justice, blocked the pursuers at the academy’s gate, and cleverly helped the maidservant escape to safety at night, allowing Zhang and the maidservant to eventually become a couple.Qiongtai Academy: A Notable Landmark in Zhanjiang
Qiongtai Academy is renowned as the setting of the Cantonese opera ‘Searching for the Academy&[...]
