The Solitary Beauty Peak and Jingjiang Prince City Scenic Area (独秀峰-靖江王府景区) covers an area of 20 square kilometers, centered around Solitary Beauty Peak and the Ming Dynasty Jingjiang Prince Residence. This area is the birthplace of the city of Guilin and embodies the three major historical and cultural systems of Guilin, making it a quintessential representation of the city’s heritage.
During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the great literary figure Yan Yanzhi composed poetry at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak, initiating the literary tradition in the Lingnan region. In the Tang Dynasty, the first official school in Guangxi was established here. The famous phrase “Guilin’s landscape tops all others (桂林山水甲天下)” was inscribed on Solitary Beauty Peak by Wang Zhenggong during the Song Dynasty, becoming a timeless slogan representing Guilin.
In the Ming Dynasty, Liu Bowen, the strategist of Zhu Yuanzhang, recognized the feng shui of Solitary Beauty Peak and constructed the Jingjiang Prince Residence. During the Qing Dynasty, the residence was converted into the Guangxi Provincial Examination Institute, becoming a significant examination center in the southwest, producing 585 jinshi (successful candidates of the highest imperial examinations) and four top scholars, one of whom achieved the highest honor in three successive exams.
In the Republican period, Sun Yat-sen made the Jingjiang Prince Residence the headquarters for his Northern Expedition. In 1954, Guangxi Normal University moved into the site. The Solitary Beauty Peak and Jingjiang Prince City area is not only known for its remarkable individuals but also as the political, economic, and cultural center of Guangxi throughout various dynasties.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of the Scenic Area
- Vlog about the Scenic Area
- Other Attractions in Guilin Urban Area
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 3 hours |
| Ticket Price | 100 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.30 – 18.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0773-2851941 |
Location and Transportation
Solitary Beauty Peak and Jingjiang Prince City Scenic Area are located at No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, China. To get there, you can take bus 203 or 206 and get off at Fengbei Road Stop (风北路站).
Highlights of the Scenic Area
Solitary Beauty Peak
Solitary Beauty Peak is one of the landmarks of Guilin, renowned as the “Southern Sky Pillar” and historically known as the first peak of Guilin. The peak rises abruptly, resembling a cut by knife or axe, surrounded by other mountains yet standing alone majestically like an emperor. With 306 steps leading to its summit, it is the best vantage point for a panoramic view of Guilin. The peak has an elevation of 216 meters, towering 66 meters above the ground. It is located 1000 meters north of Folded Brocade Hill and 500 meters east of Wave-Subduing Hill, encircled by various mountains that seem to pay homage to it, forming a regal atmosphere known as “the solitary peak unmatched by other mountains,” earning the title “the king of mountains.”
The cliff walls of Solitary Beauty Peak are adorned with numerous stone inscriptions, including the famous phrase “Guilin’s landscape tops all others.” Additionally, within the peak’s Taiping Rock, there is a cultural marvel known as the “太岁” stone carving. The southern slope features the Study Cave of Yan Yanzhi, a prominent South Dynasty literary figure, making it one of Guilin’s oldest historical sites. At the foot of the peak lies Crescent Pool, one of Guilin’s four famous pools, creating a picturesque scene with the green mountains and clear waters reflecting each other.
Jingjiang Prince Residence
Jingjiang Prince Residence is located at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak in central Guilin. During the Song Dynasty, it was the site of Iron Ox Temple, renamed Daguo Temple during the Yuan Dynasty, and later known as Wanshou Pavilion. In the first year of the Ming Hongwu era (1368), Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ascended the throne in Nanjing and appointed his grandnephew Zhu Shouqian as the Prince of Jingjiang, governing Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces. Zhu Shouqian began constructing the residence at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak in 1372, completing it 20 years later.
The entire residence spans 18.7 hectares and includes the Chengyun Gate, Chengyun Hall, sleeping quarters, ancestral temples to the left, and altars to the right, along with pavilions, towers, halls, and chambers. The residence is characterized by red walls and yellow tiles, jade steps, and jade walls, creating a magnificent spectacle. The city surrounding the residence has walls three li in length, built with square bluestones for added strength, and features four gates facing east, south, west, and north.
The Jingjiang Prince Residence housed 11 generations and 14 princes over 280 years, making it the longest-standing and best-preserved prince residence of the Ming Dynasty. Later, it was occupied by the Qing Dynasty’s King of Dingnan, Kong Youde, and became the Dingnan Prince Residence. After the peasant army led by Li Dingguo captured Guilin, Kong Youde set fire to the residence, resulting in much of the 250-year-old city being reduced to ashes.
Guangxi Imperial Examination Hall
The Guangxi Imperial Examination Hall was established during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, after the Wangcheng (Jingjiang Prince Residence) was abandoned. The Qing court built the examination hall here to facilitate the examination of scholars from Guangxi, enabling them to pursue official positions and contribute to the country.
At its peak, the hall comprised over 5,000 examination rooms, reflecting the region’s strong emphasis on education despite its remote location. Throughout the Qing Dynasty, 112 imperial examinations were held nationwide, but due to the South Ming resistance against the Qing and the Taiping Rebellion, Guangxi only conducted 100 exams, resulting in over 590 scholars passing the exams, including 298 from Guilin. Guangxi ranked fifth in the country for the number of top scholars, with four “Top Scholars” (all from Guilin). Chen Jichang, who achieved the final “Three-Major Titles” in the history of the imperial examination, was among the notable figures from this hall. Other prominent scholars include Chen Hongmou and Cen Chunxuan.
