Duxiu Peak

Duxiu Peak · Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area is located in Xiufeng District, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area, boasting profound historical and cultural heritage and unique natural scenery.

Duxiu Peak in the scenic area rises abruptly as a solitary peak, being steep, lofty and majestic, and it has long been known as the "Pillar of the Southern Sky". Jingjiang Princes' City was built when Zhu Shouqian, the great-nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, was enfeoffed as the Jingjiang Prince. It was initially constructed in the 5th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1372) and basically completed in the 9th year of the Hongwu reign (1376), taking 20 years in total. The city is 556 meters long from north to south and 355 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of 197,800 square meters. Surrounding it are the best-preserved Ming Dynasty city walls in China. The architectural layout of the princes' city follows the traditional Chinese regulation of "Ancestral Temple on the Left, Altar of the Land and Grain on the Right, Front Court and Rear Dormitory". The palace buildings are resplendent and magnificent, with an imposing manner.

History and Culture

Jingjiang Princes' City was the residence of the Jingjiang Princes in the Ming Dynasty. Starting from the 3rd year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1370) when Zhu Yuanzhang enfeoffed his great-nephew Zhu Shouqian as the Jingjiang Prince, until the 7th year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1650) when Kong Youde led the Qing troops to attack Guilin and the Jingjiang Principality was destroyed, it went through 16 Jingjiang Princes of 14 generations and lasted for 280 years. It is the princes' city with the longest hereditary time in Chinese history.

Duxiu Peak is one of the landmark peaks in Guilin. There are numerous cliff inscriptions left by literati and scholars of past dynasties on it. The most famous one is the eternal famous line "Guilin's landscape tops those elsewhere" inscribed by Wang Zhenggong, a person from the Southern Song Dynasty more than 800 years ago. This line is engraved above the Dushuyan (Reading Rock) at the southern foot of Duxiu Peak, which is the essence of Guilin's tourism culture.

During the Qing Dynasty, the princes' city served as the Guangxi Provincial Examination Hall, an important place for the imperial examination to select talents. Four top scholars, 585 metropolitan graduates and 1,685 provincial graduates came out from here, making it a blessed place for scholars. During the period of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen once stationed in the princes' city and planned the grand strategy of the Northern Expedition.

Main Scenic Spots

Duxiu Peak is the core scenic spot of the scenic area, located in the central position of the Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area. The peak is 66 meters high, with a relative height of over 160 meters. It rises abruptly from the flat ground, stands alone as a solitary peak, is steep, lofty and majestic. Standing on the peak, you can overlook the whole Guilin urban area, and the unique landscape of Guilin where "the city is in the scenery and the scenery is in the city" can be fully taken in. Cliff inscriptions are scattered all over the peak wall, and more than 100 pieces of inscriptions since the Tang Dynasty have been preserved, which are an important testimony to Guilin's history and culture.

The City Walls of Jingjiang Princes' City

The city walls of Jingjiang Princes' City are one of the best-preserved Ming Dynasty city walls in China. The city walls are 7.92 meters high, 5.5 meters thick and about 1.7 kilometers in circumference, built with huge square stones and imposing. There are city gates, watchtowers, enemy towers and other buildings on the city walls, showing the architectural style and military defense system of the Ming Dynasty. Tourists can stroll along the city walls and feel the weight of history.

Chengyun Hall

Chengyun Hall is the main hall of Jingjiang Princes' Mansion, where the Jingjiang Prince handled government affairs and held important ceremonies. It was built according to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty's princes' mansions. The building is tall and majestic, with upturned eaves and carved beams and painted rafters. Many cultural relics and historical materials related to the Jingjiang Prince are displayed in the hall. Through these exhibits, tourists can learn about the history and culture of the Jingjiang Prince.

The Provincial Examination Hall

The Provincial Examination Hall was the place where the provincial examinations were held in Guangxi during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is an important site of the ancient Chinese imperial examination system. Many buildings and facilities related to the imperial examination, such as examination cells and the Dragon Gate, have been preserved here. Tourists can experience the scene of the imperial examination here and feel the hardships and glories of ancient scholars.

Yueya Pond

Yueya Pond is located outside the west gate of the princes' city and gets its name because it is shaped like a crescent moon. The water in the pond is clear, and there are shady trees around, with beautiful scenery. There are pavilions, terraces and towers by the pond, which is a good place for tourists to rest and enjoy the scenery, adding a sense of tranquility and elegance to the whole scenic area.

Delicacies

Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin rice noodles are one of the most representative delicacies in Guilin. They are famous for their unique brine recipe and chewy rice noodles. The rice noodles are white, tender, soft, smooth and refreshing, and the brine is carefully boiled with a variety of spices, giving off an attractive aroma. You can pair them with side dishes such as barbecued pork, crispy fried pork, marinated eggs, etc., and add seasonings such as pickled cowpeas, pickled bamboo shoots, chopped scallions, etc. according to your personal taste. The taste is rich and unforgettable. There are many Guilin rice noodle shops around the scenic area, and tourists can taste authentic Guilin rice noodles at any time.

Beer Fish

Beer fish is a characteristic dish of Yangshuo and is also very popular in Guilin urban area, including the area around Duxiu Peak · Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area. Fresh live fish from the Lijiang River is selected and cooked with beer as the main seasoning. The fish meat is tender and the fragrance of beer is integrated into it, with a unique taste. During the cooking process, no water is added, and it is all stewed with beer, making the fish meat more flavorful. It is one of the must-try delicacies when coming to Guilin.

Stuffed River Snails

Stuffed river snails is a traditional delicacy in Guilin. The river snail meat is taken out, minced and mixed with ingredients such as pork and mushrooms, and then stuffed back into the river snail shells and carefully cooked. The freshness of the river snail meat and the fragrance of the stuffing are integrated, with a rich taste and mellow flavor. You can taste this unique delicacy in the restaurants around the scenic area.

Water Chestnut Cake

Water chestnut cake is a characteristic pastry in Guilin. Made mainly from water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis), the pastry is crystal clear in color, sweet, refreshing and has the fragrance of water chestnuts. It has both the crispness of water chestnuts and the softness and glutinousness of pastries. It is a very popular dessert and can be bought at snack stalls in the scenic area and pastry shops around it.

Admission Tickets

The ticket price of Duxiu Peak · Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area in Guilin may be adjusted according to different seasons and ticketing policies. Generally, the adult ticket price is around more than 100 yuan. You can buy tickets through the official website of the scenic area, major online travel platforms and the ticket windows of the scenic area. At the same time, the scenic area may provide corresponding preferential policies for special groups such as children, students, the elderly and military personnel. For example, children below a certain height are free of charge, and students, the elderly, military personnel, etc. can enjoy discounted ticket prices with valid certificates. Specific preferential information can be consulted with the scenic area when purchasing tickets.

Opening Hours

The opening hours of Duxiu Peak · Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area in Guilin are usually around 8:00 - 17:30 every day, and the specific time may be adjusted due to seasonal changes and special circumstances. The scenic area generally stops selling tickets and allowing entry 1 to 2 hours before closing. Tourists need to pay attention to the opening hours when planning their itinerary and arrange their visiting time reasonably. During some holidays or peak tourist seasons, the scenic area may extend its opening hours to meet the needs of more tourists. Tourists can pay attention to the official announcements of the scenic area to obtain the latest information.

Tour Routes

After entering the scenic area, tourists can start the tour from the entrance of the scenic area, and visit buildings such as Duanli Gate, Chengyun Gate and Chengyun Hall in turn along the central axis to learn about the history and architectural style of Jingjiang Princes' City. Then go to Duxiu Peak, climb to the top of the peak to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Guilin urban area, and at the same time, view the cliff inscriptions on the peak wall. After coming down the mountain, go to the Provincial Examination Hall to experience the scene of the ancient imperial examination. After that, you can stroll to the city walls of the princes' city, walk along the city walls for a while to feel the vicissitudes of history. Finally, you can rest by Yueya Pond and enjoy the scenery by the pond. If you have enough time, you can also go to places like the museum in the scenic area to have a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Jingjiang Princes' City and Guilin.

Transportation

Bus: You can take buses such as No. 22, No. 30 and No. 206 in Guilin City, get off at Jiefang Bridge Station or Fengbei Road Station, and then walk to the scenic area.
Taxi/Online Car-hailing: Take a taxi or online car-hailing within Guilin urban area, and directly enter "Duxiu Peak · Jingjiang Princes' City Scenic Area in Guilin" as the destination, which is convenient and fast.
Self-driving: If you choose to drive there by yourself, there are parking lots around the scenic area for parking. However, parking spaces may be relatively tight during peak tourist seasons. It is recommended to plan the parking location in advance.

Must-visit Scenic Spots

Duxiu Peak: The peak is 66 meters high, with a relative height of over 160 meters, and it is known as the "Pillar of the Southern Sky". It has more than 100 cliff inscriptions since the Tang Dynasty, and the famous line "Guilin's landscape tops those elsewhere" is engraved on it. Climbing to the top allows you to overlook the whole panorama of Guilin. It is a landmark scenic spot in Guilin and a symbol of its history and culture.
The City Walls of Jingjiang Princes' City: 7.92 meters high, 5.5 meters thick and about 1.7 kilometers in circumference, they are one of the best-preserved Ming Dynasty city walls in China. Built with huge square stones, they are equipped with buildings such as city gates and watchtowers, showing the architectural style and military defense system of the Ming Dynasty. Strolling along the city walls can make you feel the sense of historical weight.
The Provincial Examination Hall: It was the place for the provincial examinations in Guangxi during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Many buildings and facilities related to the imperial examination, such as examination cells and the Dragon Gate, have been preserved. You can experience the scene of the imperial examination, understand the examination life of ancient scholars, and feel the charm of the imperial examination culture. It is an important place to learn about the ancient Chinese imperial examination system.

Tour Suggestions

Learn about the historical and cultural background of the scenic area in advance. You can read relevant books, watch documentaries or query information on the official website of the scenic area, so that you can better understand and appreciate the scenic spots in the area.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, because you need to walk and climb Duxiu Peak during the tour. Comfortable equipment can make the tour more relaxed and enjoyable.
You can choose to participate in the guided tour service of the scenic area. The tour guide can introduce the history and cultural connotations of the scenic spots in detail, enabling tourists to have a deeper understanding of the scenic area. The guided tour service may require additional payment, and you can consult the scenic area for specific details.
When visiting the Provincial Examination Hall, you can participate in the imperial examination experience activity, put on the costumes of ancient examinees, and feel the atmosphere of the imperial examination to increase the fun of the tour.
When tasting delicacies, pay attention to choosing regular restaurants and snack stalls to ensure food hygiene and quality. At the same time, you can try some local characteristic delicacies, such as Guilin rice noodles and beer fish.
If you want to take panoramic photos of Guilin urban area, it is recommended to climb Duxiu Peak on a sunny day to obtain better shooting effects.

Precautions

Comply with the regulations and order of the scenic area. Do not scribble, spit or litter in the scenic area, and keep the scenic area clean and beautiful.
When climbing Duxiu Peak, pay attention to safety, follow the instructions on the signs and the guidance of the staff, and do not take risks by climbing in dangerous areas. Especially on rainy days or when the road is slippery, walk carefully to prevent slipping.
When visiting indoor places such as the Provincial Examination Hall, pay attention to protecting cultural relics and exhibits. Do not touch, damage or take away any cultural relics.
There may be some commercial activities and promotional behaviors in the scenic area. Tourists should maintain rational consumption and avoid unnecessary expenses.
If you travel with children or the elderly, take good care of their safety and physical condition to avoid excessive fatigue.
During the peak tourist season, there are many tourists in the scenic area. Pay attention to keeping your personal belongings safe to prevent them from being lost or stolen.