1. Overview & Significance
Centered around 216m-tall Duxiu Peak ("Solitary Beauty Peak"), this 20 km² UNESCO site merges:
- Ming Dynasty Royal Palace (1372–1392): Built for Prince Zhu Shouqian, predating Beijing’s Forbidden City.
- Historic Landmarks: "桂林山水甲天下" carving (Song Dynasty), Qing-era Guangxi Imperial Exam Hall, and Sun Yat-sen’s 1921北伐 headquarters.
2. Key Attractions
- Duxiu Peak:
- "South Sky Pillar": Summit offers 360° views of Guilin’s karst skyline.
- Legends: Named after poet Yan Yanzhi’s verse "None rivals Solitary Beauty".
- Royal Palace Ruins:
- Throne Hall Foundations: Original white jade steps and dragon-carved railings.
- Moonlight Pool: One of Guilin’s Four Famous Ponds.
- Cultural Treasures:
- 60 Taoist Deity Carvings in Taiping Cave.
- 1300+ Imperial Exam Cells where 4 Qing状元 were crowned.
3. Historical Timeline
- 1372: Ming Prince Zhu builds palace over Yuan Dynasty ruins.
- 1652: Burnt by Qing rebel Li Dingguo; later rebuilt as exam hub.
- 1921: Sun Yat-sen launches Northern Expedition here.
- 2012: Granted 5A status for blending nature, history, and academia (now part of Guangxi Normal University).
4. Visitor Experience
- Guided Routes:
- Royal Path: Throne Hall → Duxiu Peak → Exam Hall (90 mins).
- Scholar’s Tour: 800-year-old "Reading Cave" → Confucian Temple.
- Interactive Displays: AR palace reconstructions and exam reenactments.
5. Practical Tips
- Hours: 7:30 AM–6:30 PM (summer); 8:00 AM–6:00 PM (winter).
- Fees: ¥100/adult; ¥50/student (free under 1.2m).
- Transport: Bus 1/2/10 to "Wangcheng" stop (downtown).
6. Honors & Conservation
- National Archaeological Park (2010).
- CCTV’s "Top 10 Cultural Landmarks" (2024).
Duxiu Peak & Royal Palace is where Guilin’s soul resides—a living textbook of imperial ambition, scholarly pursuit, and geological wonder.
