Guilin Travel & Tour Packages - Solitary Beauty Peak and Jingjiang
Prince City
Located in the center of
Guilin City and built around the
Solitary Beauty Peak, Jingjiang Prince City Scenic Area is a highest
grade tourist resource in the city which was built on the site of
the mansion of the Prince Jingjiang in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In
the scenic area, the manmade sights embrace the natural beauty. The
authentic work of the inscription "Guilin's Scenery Ranks First in
the World" is found there. It is a typical representation of the
culture and history of Guilin.
History
The Prince Jingjiang was the master of the present
prince city. He was given the title by his grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang,
the creator of Ming Dynasty. It took over 20 years to build his
mansion and the history is longer than the Forbidden City in
Beijing. In the 257 years from the construction to destruction, all
together 14 regional princes in 12 generations have lived in the
mansion. In Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was served as the imperial
examination hall. It was Sun Yat-sen's base camp during his north
expedition. At present, it is a part of the campus of Guangxi Normal
University.
Construction
Covering an area of 19.78 hectares, it is mainly
composed of Chengyun (Be Ordained by Heaven) Gate, Chengyun Hall,
Bedchamber, Ancestral Temple, The Altar of the Earth and Harvests,
pavilions, terraces and towers. The whole city is a huge building
complexes decorated with red walls and yellow tiles, splendid and
glorious. Around the Prince City, there is a city wall piled up by
strong square green stones. Four city gates are opened in the
eastern, western, northern and southern sides, named Tiren (Donghua
Gate), Duanli (Zhengyang Gate), Zunyi (Xihua Gate) and Guangzhi (Hougong
Gate) respectively. The straight Solitary Beauty Peak stands erect
in the city. Yueya (Crescent) Pool is lying at the top of the peak.
Move up, visitors can find Xuanwu Pavilion, Kwanyin Hall, Sanke
Temple and Sanshen (Three Deities) Ancestral Temple elegantly dotted
on the peak.
Scenic Sights
Solitary Beauty Peak: It is located in the ancient
Mansion of Prince Jingjiang, in the center of Guilin City, Guangxi
Province, with an area of 6,100 square meters (about 1.5 acres).
Towering 216 meters (about 709 feet) above the sea level and 66
meters (about 217 feet) above the ground, this peak has been a major
scenic site in Guilin since ancient times and is renowned as the
'Sky-Supporting Pillar in the South'. Composed of limestone from the
shallow sea sediment biochemistry about 0.35 billion years ago, the
peak got its name from the famous line in Southern Dynasty (420-589)
literature, 'none can surpass this solitary peak in beauty'. When
bathed in the dawn sunshine or afterglow, the peak seems to be
wearing a purple gown and a golden belt, which is the origin of its
other name 'Purple Golden Hill'.
A stone stair of 306 steps will lead you to the top of
the peak, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Guilin City.
Here, you will also find the famous Solitary Beauty Pavilion, which
is 7 meters (about 23 feet) high, has 2 floors and is supported by
several red pillars.
There are many peculiar caves in this scenic site. The
most famous one is the Dushu (Study) Rock at the east foot of the
peak, which looks like a stone room with natural windows and beds
inside. It is said that Yan Tingzhi, governor of Guilin and also a
famous writer, often studied here about 1,500 years ago. At the west
foot lies the Taiping (Peace) Rock, which is 2.9 meters (about 9.5
feet) high and covers an area of 140 square meters (about 1,507 sq
ft). This cave looks like a gracious house with a very smooth floor
and stalactites of various shapes hanging down from the roof.
Flowers are planted in the front of the cave, and statues of Buddha
have been erected inside. On the wall of the cave, you can read
poets' praise of the cave's exquisite characteristics. The Snow Cave
on the other hand, which is located at the north-west foot, is
famous for its stalactites that are white as snow.
The renowned Yueya (Crescent) Pond is located at the
east foot of the peak. Its name is owing to its distinct crescent
shape. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Tower stands on the bank of the
pond, and was established in 1921 to memorize the revolution led by
its namesake, Sun Yat-sen. Now, it has been acknowledged as one of
the major protected heritages of Guilin City.
Sanyuan Jidi Hall: Located near Zhengyang Gate, Sanyuan
Jidi Hall was built for Chen Jichang, one of the 15 candidates that
came first in the imperial examinations at all the three levels,
which was called "Sanyuan Jidi" in Chinese. Chen Jichang was born in
Lingui County in Guilin. His success has won glory for his hometown.
In order to memorize him, a memorial gate way carved by a big stone
was erected on the main gate of the Prince City, which was the
highest honor of the successful people in imperial civil
examinations in ancient China.
Zhuangyuan Jidi Hall: "Zhuangyuan" is the title
conferred on the candidate who won the first in the highest imperial
examination in ancient China. Located on Donghua Gate, Zhuangyuan
Jidi Hall was built for Long Qirui, the number one scholar in 1841
in Qing Dynasty. The hall was destroyed in 1900. Today it was
reconstructed and opened to visitors.
Bangyan Jidi Hall: "Bangyan" is the second place of the
first grade in the highest imperial examinations during Ming and
Qing dynasties in ancient China. Located on Xihua Gate, Bangyan Jidi
Hall was built for Yu Jianzhang who won this title in Qing Dynasty.
A series of activities is held in these halls. The
simulated examination halls of the provincial imperial examination
center in Qing Dynasty are set up for visitors to experience the
ancient exams. Visitors enter the exam hall, use brush pens and
answer the test papers, and luckily they become the successful
candidates and are put on the glorious clothes. This is to taste the
happiness of ancient candidates when they succeed in the ancient
imperial exams.
For tours, please visit Tour-Guilin
page for various tour packages.
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