Guilin: A Bit of History

The site of present day Guilin (though not yet known by that name) was inhabited by the BaiYue people as early as the semi-legendary Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. By the time of the Warring States Period it was well established and under the jurisdiction of the State of Chu.

Guilin sprang into history in the thirty-third year of the reign of the first Emperoro, Qinshihuang. It was in this year that the Emperor ordered the construction of the Ling Canal . This links the river systems to the south of Guilin (those that feed into the Pearl River) with those to the north (feeding into the Yangtse River system). This aided unification of the whole southern region (usually expressed as that part lying 'South of the Five Ridges' ) by making travel and transportation much more convenient.

It wasn't until the Tang Dynasty that Guilin took on any real importance as a centre of government. In 621 A.D. the Grand General Li Jing set up his Mansion in Guilin and the Regional Administrative Government followed during the Song Dynasty. It was at this time that the site became a city proper.

Later in the Song Dynasty, Guilin was upgraded to Jingjiang Prefecture. This made it a much more attractive place for worthy men of letters and Guilin soon picked up the nickname 'Capital of South-west China'.

Early in the Ming Dynasty, a nephew of the Emperor was sent to adminster Guilin. He took the title 'Prince of Jingjiang' . The Mansion of the Prince of Jingjiang is still in good condition and is rated as perhaps the best -preserved  example of a Vassal-state Mansion from the Ming Dynasty in all of China.

The name Guilin was adopted later - and the city played an important role as the centre of a county, prefecture and also province. It was only after the revolution that Nanning became the capital of Guangxi Zhaung Autonomous Region and Guilin took a back seat in governmental affairs. It still administers 12 counties and is listed by the State Council as a State Historical and Cultural Famous City.