A 4,500-year-old cypress tree, granted the title of Second Great General by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, is a wonder at the Songyang Academy. [Photo by Zhang Xingjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

It is worth noting there is a 4,500-year-old cypress tree, granted the title of Second Great General by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), an invaluable treasure seldom seen in the world.

Historically Songyang Academy was jointly an institution of Buddhism and Daoism at first, but later dedicated itself to Confucianism exclusively.

Chenghao and Cheng Xi, two great masters of the Luo School of Confucianism, spread their theories to hundreds of students there.

According to Gong Songtao, vice director of the China Academy Association, Songyang Academy was an institution of higher education in ancient China and is regarded as representative of Confucian culture.

"Since the academy was established, it acted as a teaching institution for over 1,000 years, and it is sad to see the academy has lost its original scale and reputation as times go by," Gong added. "In China's history, a large number of academies existed, but survivors only account for a smaller part of the total. Luckily, modern people are aware of the issue and are paying more attention to the revival of China's academies."