Yuelu Academy
岳麓书院 · Yuèlù Shūyuàn
One of China’s four great academies, teaching since 976 and now part of Hunan University: quiet courtyards, lecture halls and old trees.
Booking requiredBring your passport1–1.5 hours
Tip
Go first thing in the morning when it is quiet, then continue straight up the mountain path behind it to Aiwan Pavilion.
- Opening hours
- May–Oct 07:50–18:00 (tickets until 17:30); Nov–Apr 07:50–17:30 (tickets until 17:00). Usually closed for three days at Chinese New Year.
- Price
- ¥40
- How to book
- Real-name booking on the official “岳麓书院” WeChat account, up to 4 days ahead; the academy officially accepts foreign passports. You can also buy at the ticket window with your passport if slots remain. Could not get tickets? Tell us what you need
- Getting there
- Hunan Normal University (Line 4), about 20 min walk through the Hunan University campus To be confirmed
- Address in Chinese
- 湖南省长沙市岳麓区麓山南路273号
Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0
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Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: Getting there
More in Changsha
湖南博物院Hunan MuseumHome of the Mawangdui Han tombs: the 2,100-year-old body of Lady Xin Zhui, a silk robe lighter than 50 grams, lacquerware and silk paintings.橘子洲Orange IsleA 5 km-long island in the Xiang River, with parkland and a 32-metre granite head of the young Mao Zedong at its southern tip.岳麓山Yuelu MountainA forested hill on the west bank with temples, the Aiwan Pavilion famous for autumn maples, and views over the city and river.太平街Taiping StreetThe best-preserved old street in central Changsha: grey-brick shops, the former home of Han scholar Jia Yi, and snacks and tea shops.