Baoding ancient Lotus Pond lotus viewing guide

Lianchi Academy Museum in Baoding sits on the edge of Lotus Pond. A nationally protected cultural site, it was built in 1806. Originally the official academy of the Qing‑era Zhili governor‑general's office, it was one of the four famous academies of the Qing dynasty and is now a provincial patriotism education base. Lianchi Academy sits next to the Zhili governor‑general's office. In Guangxu year 30 (1904), after the Qing abolished the imperial exam system, it was converted into Baoding Junior Normal School, the earliest teacher training school in Zhili province. After liberation, it became the campus of Baoding No. 2 Middle School. Today, Lianchi Academy is not only a historical site but also a garden landscape. The grounds feature many sights: a white marble bridge set among green trees and red walls, an exquisite lotus-leaf pavilion, a quiet stone-paved path, and the ever-changing Taihu rocks... On the central island of the Lotus Pond stands an ancient building, Zunjing Pavilion. The pavilion is two stories tall, with upturned eaves and ornate gilding. Inside, a large stone is carved with the four characters "Lianchi Academy" in Emperor Qianlong's own hand. When visiting Lianchi Academy Museum, there is a small surprise — the viral ice cream, CNY 6.9 per cone! The pond is full of lotus flowers, great for photos! Admission: CNY 30 per person (free for under 18), visit lasts about 1 hour.