During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the funds for running schools in Huizhou were raised through multiple channels, among which Huizhou merchants were the biggest supporters. During the years of Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong and Jiaqing, Huizhou merchants flourished and developed vigorously, which was also the period when they invested the most in Huizhou education.
For example, Yixian Integrated Academy, only Huizhou merchant Huang Zhenyuan donated 630 mu of land; Wuyuan Mingjing Academy, Hu Cheng Brothers donated 350 mu of land; Ziyang Academy in Shexian County was rebuilt on Ziyang Mountain under the auspices of Zhang Qin, a magistrate of a county, during Zheng De's reign in Ming Dynasty.
1709, Cao, who was born in a family of salt merchants, rebuilt the ancient Ziyang Academy in the former site of Wengong Temple, showing the coexistence of two Ziyang academies. According to Huizhou government records, during the reign of Qianlong Jiaqing, Yangzhou salt merchants donated more than 70,000 taels of silver to the Academy.
1563 Biyang college in Yixian county was expanded, and a merchant named Hu donated silver 15000 Liang. Examples of this kind are too numerous to mention.