Songyang Academy was an institution of higher education in ancient China. Together with Yuelu Academy in Changsha in Hunan Province, Bailu Dong Academy on Lunshan Mountain in Jiangxi Province, and Suiyang Academy in Shangqiu in Henan Province, it was one of the four great academies in ancient China. In the yard there is a "General Cypress" that was planted in the Han Dynasty. Outside the gate, there is a tablet inscription of the Tang Dynasty which is called the "King Tablet of Songshan Mountain." The very old tree and tablet are just two of the ancient relics in this ancient academy.

Surrounded by hills, the scenery here is quite beautiful. The temple was first built in the Qin Dynasty . Zhongyue Temple was called Taishi Temple in the past. Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty ordered that Zhongyue Temple be built up further, and emperors of other later dynasities did so as well. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the Zhongyue Temple was substantially reconstructed.