the Dismount Stones

On each side of the academy, you will see two white marbles. These are the Dismount Stones, carved with eight Chinese characters that tell officials to dismount their horses and show respect for Confucius. Behind the Imperial Academy, there is the Han Wengong Temple in memory of Han Yu, the master of prose during the Tang Dynasty(618 – 907 AD). In the west of Guozijian Street, there used to be two temples built on the south side of the street, the Fire God Temple and the Kitchen God Temple. The Kitchen God Temple has been demolished. There is a private museum at No. 3 of Guozijian Street exhibiting the gate piers, the ancient statues, the old architectural decorations and various carvings in wood and stone.

Walking in the shade of the locust trees, with the antique arches and courtyards by your side, you can experience a getaway from the noisy city life.