The Mansion of the Prince of Jingjiang

Located to the north of the current downtown, at the foot of Solitary Beauty Peak, the Mansion used to lie at the centre of the ancient city of Jingjiang, later Guilin.

The Mansion is rated as the finest example of a Vassal-state Prince's home from the Ming Dynasty in all of China. It was originally constructed from a Yuan Dynasty temple in 1372.

Over the next 21 years the Prince City was built around this, with an impressive wall made of large, cubic stones. The city was about 500m by 250m making the perimeter some 1500m.

There used to be a main entrance, the Chengyun Gate, with a central Chengyun Hall, and a Rear Hall behind that. This latter building was set between an Ancestor Hall on one side, and a gods Hall on the other.There were about 40 other constructions including pavilions and bridges.

Unfortunately, many of the buildings within the city were destroyed during the Qing Dynasty, but the wall and Chengyun Gate are still intact.

The grounds are well worth a wander so long as you accept that the information available is minimal, and that it will take some effort to climb the peak.