Natural Creation–The Solitary Pride and Panoramic View of Duxiu Peak
The natural landscape of the Jingjiang Prince's Palace unfolds around Duxiu Peak,presenting a unique picture of"scenery within a city,city within a scene."
The Pillar of the South:The Proud Spirit of the King of Guilin's Mountains
Duxiu Peak,originally named Zijin Mountain,stands abruptly in the center of the Prince's Palace.Its shape is as if carved by a knife and axe,surrounded by other mountains,making it a solitary and proud peak,known as the"Pillar of the South."As a classic representative of Guilin's karst landforms,Duxiu Peak rises abruptly from the flat land,displaying extraordinary grandeur.Climbing to the top takes only 15-20 minutes.Although its relative height of 66 meters is not high,the unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view makes it the best vantage point for overlooking the entire Guilin landscape.Standing atop the peak,the entire city of Guilin and the surrounding karst peaks unfold before your eyes.The Li River flows like a ribbon,and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes reflect like a mirror,creating a living landscape painting.Photography tip:The golden hour for capturing panoramic views of Guilin is one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset,when the karst peaks are particularly magnificent under the glow of the setting sun.
Crescent Moon Pool:A Poetic Remnant of a Royal Garden
At the northern foot of Duxiu Peak,a crescent-shaped pool,named"Crescent Moon Pool,"was carved.It was a water feature in the imperial garden of the Ming Dynasty's Prince Jingjiang,reserved for his leisure.The pool's water is a deep,emerald green,and ancient trees line its banks,reflecting the majestic Duxiu Peak,creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the prince's red walls and green tiles.In the early morning,mist swirls around the pool,making Duxiu Peak appear and disappear in the thin fog,like a fairyland.This is the best spot to photograph the"Duxiu Peak Reflection,"and also a perfect place to rest and reflect after a hike.
Humanistic Ingenuity–A Frozen Symphony of Six Hundred Years of Royal Grandeur
The architecture here is not merely a residence,but a cultural heritage coexisting with history.
Chengyun Hall and Chengyun Gate:Living Fossils of Ming Dynasty Princely Architecture
As the main hall of the Jingjiang Princely Palace,Chengyun Hall,built on a Sumeru stone base,was where the Jingjiang Prince handled state affairs and held important ceremonies.Although a fire in the Qing Dynasty destroyed the original wooden structure,the Ming Dynasty stone structures,such as the foundation,cloud-shaped steps,carved railings,and bluestone walkways,remain well-preserved,exuding a magnificent aura and evoking the regal grandeur of yesteryear.The existing buildings were rebuilt during the Republic of China period and are now the Jingjiang Princely Palace History Exhibition Hall,showcasing the rise and fall of the palace and its historical stories.Inside the hall,visitors can experience the intangible cultural heritage technique of"Princely Palace Rubbing,"creating their own cultural memento.
Chengyun Gate,as the main gate of the palace,is tall and magnificent,adopting the architectural style of an official Ming Dynasty gatehouse,with upturned eaves and carved beams and painted rafters.The brick and stone carvings on the gate are exquisite,symbolizing good fortune,longevity,and health.It is a typical gatehouse-style architectural remnant of Ming Dynasty princely residences.
A Thousand-Year-Old City Wall and Four Gates:Echoes of History Built of Bluestone
The princely residence is surrounded by a 1.5-kilometer-long,7.92-meter-high city wall,constructed of massive rectangular limestone stones filled with rammed earth,exuding an imposing aura.The city has four gates:East,South,West,and North,named"Tiren"(Donghua Gate),"Duanli"(Zhengyang Gate),"Zunyi"(Xihua Gate),and"Guangzhi"(Hougong Gate).Duanli Gate is the main gate,a tall and deep three-arched stone gate.The three plaques inlaid on the gate,inscribed with"Sanyuan Jidi"(Triple Top Scholar),"Zhuangyuan Jidi"(Top Scholar),and"Bangyan Jidi"(Second Scholar),were erected to commemorate the talented scholars from Guilin during the Qing Dynasty,recording Guilin's glorious history in the imperial examinations.Walking on the city wall,touching the mottled bluestone,one can almost feel the warmth of the craftsmen from six hundred years ago.
The Cliff Inscriptions of Duxiu Peak:An Epic of Guilin Carved in Stone
The cliff inscriptions on the walls of Duxiu Peak are scattered like stars,forming a microcosm of Guilin's history and the essence of its culture.The inscriptions include records of events,poems,inscriptions,calligraphy,and paintings,spanning from the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China period,making it a veritable history of Guilin's culture carved in stone.Among them,the original source of the famous saying"Guilin's scenery is the best under heaven"is engraved on the cliff above the Reading Rock on the southern slope of Duxiu Peak,becoming the best interpretation of the beauty of Guilin's landscape.Furthermore,there is the world cultural wonder of Tai Sui—the"Tai Sui"cliff inscription—within Taiping Rock.Historical relics such as the Reading Rock inscription by Yan Yanzhi of the Southern Dynasties and the"Song Yan Gong Reading Rock"inscription by Sun Lan of the Song Dynasty are still well preserved.
Guangxi Imperial Examination Hall:The Highest Hall of Imperial Examination Culture in Southwest China
In 1657,the site of the former Jingjiang Prince's Palace was converted into the Guangxi Provincial Examination Hall,becoming one of the five major examination halls in China during the Qing Dynasty and the largest examination venue in Southwest China.At its peak,it had 5,500 examination rooms,accommodating over 5,000 Guangxi students simultaneously for the provincial examinations.Approximately 100 provincial examinations were held here,producing 4 top scholars(Zhuangyuan),585 Jinshi(successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations),and 1,685 Juren(successful candidates in the provincial examinations).Today,the site retains Ming Dynasty city walls and about 60 restored examination cells,and houses an Imperial Examination Culture Museum.Visitors can experience the"ancient examination process"in the restored cells,answering questions with a brush and guarded by soldiers,immersing themselves in the imperial examination culture.Chen Jichang,the last"Triple Crown"winner in Chinese imperial examination history,hailed from here,and his legendary story is still told in the Prince's Palace.
Photography Tips:
The best panoramic view is from the summit of Duxiu Peak,offering a 360-degree view of Guilin city and the karst peaks;
The reflection of Duxiu Peak can be captured at Crescent Moon Pool,with the best effect seen in the early morning mist;
The Ming Dynasty stone structure remains and architectural details of the Prince's Palace can be photographed in front of Chengyun Hall;
Drones are restricted from flying over the scenic area,please abide by the regulations.
