In 1877, the Qing Dynasty general Yang Yuke walked away from his newly built noble mansion in Dali Ancient City, leaving behind a gift that would reshape western Yunnan. He donated his entire estate to establish Xiyun Academy, a public school shared by five local prefectures.

The architecture preserves a quiet, physical history. At the entrance, the Tongzhi-era gate rises in the traditional Bai style of "one high, two low, three dripping waters," its roofline held aloft by nine-tier dougong brackets. Directly opposite, a whitewashed screen wall holds a cool white marble slab. Run your fingers over the smooth stone to feel the official clerical script of "Xiyun Academy," brushed by Yang Yuke's own hand.

Beyond the gate lies the central Zhicheng Courtyard. This space uses the classic "four courtyards with five skywells" layout. A two-story wood-framed corridor building wraps around the courtyard, its timber frames creaking softly underfoot. The main building spans five bays, held together by a traditional post-and-beam chuantou timber structure.

In the southern garden, known as Zhan Garden, the air carries the quiet rustle of leaves. Here stands the Zhongsong Stele, erected in 1822. It bears the "Poem of Planting Pines," hand-carved by the poet-official Song Xiang. Nearby, the 1877 Xiyun Academy Stele displays a 5,000-character inscription in elegant chancellery script, recording the school's founding. These chiseled grooves in the stone preserve the physical labor of the carvers and the vision of the founders. Xiyun Academy stands as a physical bridge, connecting the imperial past to the living present.