The Ancient Wall of Jingjiang Palace
Jingjiang's Prince Palace (Jingjiang Wangcheng) is one of the most popular tourist sites in Guilin. To reach the Palace, you will have to pass through a city wall, which will definitely impress you, for its sense of vicissitudes. As an important part of the Jingjiang Palace, the city ancient wall didn’t open to the public until June 28, 2020. Since that day, citizens and tourists have a chance to enter the scenic spot and board the tower to feel the contrast between histories with modern.
The Jingjiang's Prince Palace Wall is the best-preserved Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) city wall in China, first built in 1372. It’s about 500 meters long from north to south, 300 meters wide from east to west, and 7.9 meters high. The pavement on the top of the city wall is 5 meters wide and the circumference of the city wall is 1745 meters. The restored city wall has four gates in four directions, namely Tiren Gate, Zunyi Gate, Duanli Gate and Guangzhi Gate, which imply benevolence, justice, etiquette and wisdom.
Above the Duanli (Zhengyang) gate on the ancient wall, there is a large stone tablet saying four Chinese characters: San Yuan Ji Di. This tablet was built in Qing Dynasty for Chen Jichang who got the first place in two provincial examinations and even the nationwide first place which was conducted by the emperor in Beijing (1820). Since the Tang Dynasty when the imperial examination was first used to select scholars, there were only 13 students who got San Yuan (succeed in three different level examinations) over more than 1,000 years, and only 2 in the Qing Dynasty for more than 200 years. Chen Jichang, a native resident, left his name in history by the huge stone on the main gate of the royal city. It was the highest honor given to those who became famous in imperial examinations by the feudal society. The other stone tablet “Zhuang Yuan Ji Di” above the Tiren (Donghua) Gate was for commemorating four native students who once got the nationwide first place. The third one “Bang Yan Ji Di” above Zunyi (Xihua) Gate was built for Yu Jian Zhang in 1865 to commend his second place in nationwide examination. Now you can see, the Old Wall of the Jingjiang Princes' City, is like a hall of fame.
Standing on the Ancient Wall of Jingjiang Princes' Palace, you will get a chance to look back at the past, cherish the present and look to the future.
Facts
- In Chinese: 靖江王城古城墙
- Address: No. 1 Wangcheng Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin
- Opening time:
07:30 – 18:00 (spring & autumn);
07:30 – 18:30 (summer);
08:00 – 18:00 (winter)
As it’s a reopen relic site, it may be closed for maintaining from time to time. Please contact us to make sure it’s open during your time in Guilin before you go.
- Entrance fee: RMB100
How to Get There?
Take Bus 2, 10, 11, 91, 100, 205, k99 to Shizi Avenue Stop, and then walk for about ten minutes to reach the Jingjiang Wang City Scenic Spot.
Take taxi and tell the driver, take you to the Jingjiang Wang Cheng (靖江王城).
Travel Tips
It would be nice to combine the Jingjiang City Wall and the Jingjiang Palace together, which will give you a full picture of Guilin history. Please find more information about Jingjiang Palace.
More Attractions in Guilin