Jingjiang Princes City
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Jingjiang Princes City (ch. 靖江王城; pinyin jing jiang wang cheng) is a famous historical site in Guilin, Guangxi province, China. It now functions as both Guangxi Normal University and as a tourist attraction.
Description
The city is magnificent and grandly walled, and once functioned as an 'inner city' occupied by the princes and their families. There are 4 halls, 4 pavilions and other 40 constructions surrounding the main buildings. It occupies a total area of 198,700 m². Duxiu Peak, said to be the king of Guilin peaks, stands in the royal garden.
The layout of the city strictly conforms to the rules of the Ming Dynasty. All buildings are arranged on the axis anchored by the Duxiu Peak in the order of, from the south, Duanli Gate (Entrance Gate), Chengyun Gate (Palace Gate), Chengyun Palace (Administration Building), Royal Quarters, Imperial Garden and Guangzhi Gate (Rear Gate). The subsidiary buildings on both sides of the axis are symmetrical.
History
Construction began from the 5th year of Hong Wu (1372 AD), who founded the Ming Dynasty. Zhao Gou, who later became Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty all had lived here before they were enthroned.
Since the grand-nephew of Hongwu, Zhu Shouqian, was was first enthroned as Prince of Jingjiang there have been 14 Jingjiang Princes of 12 generations who have lived in the city. In the Qing Dynasty, the city compound was changed into the Guangxi Provincial Examination House, from where a galaxy of talents immerged.
In the period of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen once headquartered here for his North Expedition. Later on, it became the provincial capital office of Guangxi. In the winter of 1925, it was renamed Yat-sen Park.
Over its history of more than 600 years the city was burned down several times, however it remains as the best preserved Princes City in China. Notably, the carved balustrades and marble steps still remain. The Chinese Government gave the site national protection status in 1993.
Today the site is occupied by Guangxi Normal University, but remains open to the public as popular tourist attraction combining aspects of Guilin's natural beauty, history, traditional architecture and local culture.