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What Xi'an people usually refer to as "Shuyuanmen" refers to a pedestrian street from the Forest of Steles to the gate of Guanzhong Academy. The name of Shuyuanmen originated from the Guanzhong Academy inside it.
The Shuyuan Gate is located east of the South Gate, connecting to Anju Lane and Sanxue Street. In the 20th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1592), the scholar Feng Congwu, a native of present-day Chang'an County, resigned from his official position and returned home after failing to defeat the eunuch clique. He lectured at Baoqing Temple. He later relocated to a new location and established the Guanzhong Academy on the north side of the street. With a student population often exceeding a thousand, it became a renowned institution. Later, the academy was destroyed by the eunuch clique, and Feng Congwu sat there for 200 days before his death.
Large-scale renovations were carried out in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It now houses Xi'an Normal School, and the ruins are well-preserved. The street was named after the academy's gate. Yu Youren once lived at No. 32. At the west entrance is the Hua Pagoda of the Tang Baoqing Temple. In 1991, the street was renovated to retain the Ming and Qing styles and was designated a cultural tourism street.
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1-2 hours
Guanzhong Academy
Guanzhong Academy was the highest institution of learning in Shaanxi during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was also one of the four most famous academies in China and the most prestigious of the four academies in Northwest China. The academy is a grand structure, with a central lecture hall (Yunzhi Hall) with six rooms, four rooms on the left and right, and six rooms on the east and west. Behind the lecture halls stands a rockery, with "three towering peaks" and "like a small Huayue Mountain." (Guanzhong Academy is now Xi'an University of Arts and Sciences, and visitors are not allowed.)
Yu Youren Memorial Hall
Yu Youren once lived at No. 32, which has now been built into the Yu Youren Former Residence Memorial Hall.
Yu Youren, whose given name was Boxun and courtesy name was Youren, was born in Sanyuan, Xianyang, in 1879. His ancestral home was Jingyang, Shaanxi Province. He was a veteran of the Kuomintang, a democratic revolutionary, a renowned poet, and a master of calligraphy, known as the "Cursive Script Master of the Modern Era." Chairman Mao Zedong even considered him his calligraphy teacher. Throughout his life, he loved his country, his people, and his hometown. He developed water conservancy projects, built farms, established schools, and protected national cultural heritage, earning him widespread esteem both at home and abroad. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was unable to return to mainland China from Taiwan and was buried there, a matter of great regret.
Baoqing Temple Hua Pagoda
Located north of the Shuyuan Gate within the present-day South Gate of Xi'an, Baoqing Temple was built during the Renshou reign (601-604) of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. Its original site was in Anrenfang, Daxingcheng, during the Sui Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty, a pagoda was constructed within the temple using five-colored bricks, leading to its nickname, Huata Temple. During the Five Dynasties, the main hall was destroyed by war, but only the pagoda remained. In the second year of the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty (1451), the pagoda was moved and the temple was rebuilt to its current location. During the Wanli reign (1573-1620), Feng Congwu lectured here. In the first year of the Yongzheng reign (1723), the resident monk Wentian renovated the temple. The Huata Pagoda at Baoqing Temple stands approximately 23 meters tall, has seven stories, and a hexagonal plan. It houses stone Buddha statues from the Wei, Sui, and Tang dynasties. A stone tablet inscribed with the reconstruction dated 1451, the second year of the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty, remains. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government renovated the Huata at Baoqing Temple, making it a key protected site in Shaanxi Province.
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Academy Gate is a historic landmark in Xi’an, originally serving as the entrance to a Confucian academy. It represents the city’s long-standing tradition of education and scholarly pursuits, highlighting ancient Chinese architecture and cultural values.
Located in the heart of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Accessible via taxi or bus from the city center, or by walking if staying nearby. Metro Line 2 (Beidajie Station) is within a short distance for easy access.
Generally open from 8:00 to 18:00. Early mornings or weekdays are ideal to avoid crowds and enjoy a quieter visit.
Entrance is usually free or requires a minimal local fee. Tickets, if applicable, can be purchased at the gate or through local tourism websites.
Advance booking is generally not required due to the low cost and public accessibility of the site.
1–2 hours is sufficient to explore the gate, nearby gardens, and take photographs.
Guided tours are occasionally available in Chinese; English guides may be arranged through travel agencies. Audio guides are limited.
Night visits are generally not available. Special tours or cultural events may be held occasionally and require checking local schedules.
It can be moderately busy during weekends and public holidays. Weekdays and early mornings are quieter for a more relaxed experience.
Basic public facilities such as toilets and small rest areas are available nearby. Food and souvenir shops are limited, with most options outside the gate area.
Generally accessible; the area is mostly flat and walkable, though some sections may have steps. Suitable for elderly, children, and visitors with moderate mobility.
Cash is accepted at nearby vendors, and mobile payments like WeChat Pay and Alipay are commonly used.
Several local restaurants and small cafes are within walking distance, offering Shaanxi cuisine, snacks, and tea.
Vegetarian options are widely available. Halal options can be found at specific local restaurants near the site.
Multiple mid-range and budget hotels are nearby, including options around Beidajie and the historic city center of Xi’an.
Souvenir shops sell traditional calligraphy, local handicrafts, bookmarks, and postcards related to Xi’an culture.
