Tucked away in a corner of the garden is a small museum in memory of a famous patriot, educator, intellectual and revolutionary named Tan Citong. In 1843, he founded the first academy teaching western knowledge and natural sciences in the Hunan region. Along with other famous philosophers such as Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, he also tried to promote a 'Westernization Movement' in the Qing Dynasty to raise awareness of science, open the country to the world and phase out traditional and conservative ways of governing. The movement was crushed by the Empress Cixi. Tan Citong, turning down offers to flee the country with his comrades, was executed by the government. Before he died, he wrote a famous article expressing his determination to sacrifice for his country - as a final attempt to wake up his fellow countryman and make them aware of the government's ineffective and corrupt nature.

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