Gangnan District 港南区

History

In the Qin and Han periods the area was the seat of Guilin (桂林郡) and Yulin (郁林郡) commanderies and of Bushan County (布山县); according to the Guangxi provincial gazetteer, the Bushan seat stood in today's Nanjiang Community (南江社区) of Jiangnan Subdistrict (江南街道). The Ming turned the prefecture into Gui County (贵县) in 1369. Gangnan was created in 1995 when Guigang became a prefecture-level city, and its government opened in June 1996. The district also claims revolutionaries Tan Shoulin (谭寿林) and Chen An (陈岸); Chen's former home in Qiaoxu Town (桥圩镇), a brick-and-tile house of the Daoguang and Xianfeng reigns, was restored and now holds exhibits on his life.

What to see

Nanshan Temple (南山寺), also called Jingyou Chan Temple (景佑禅寺), stands in the Nanshan scenic area and was founded in 989 by the monk Shanzhi (善智) in a cave on Shitou Hill (狮头山). In 997 it received 224 scrolls of the late Emperor Taizong's calligraphy, and in 1329 a local official carved a name tablet written by the Yuan emperor Wenzong in stone. Its stone inscriptions, together with a Song iron bell, have been protected by the autonomous region since 1963. The district government traces the Nanshan in the birthday blessing "may your life be as long as the southern mountain" to this temple.

Other old sites named by the district government include the Yulin Commandery city site (郁林郡古城遗址), Anlan Pagoda (安澜古塔) and an ancient imperial highway. Current scenic areas include the Nanshan scenic area, the Anlan scenic area (安澜景区) and Tongguwan Hot Spring resort (铜鼓湾温泉旅游度假区).

Food and local products

Gangnan carries the title "China's Home of Down" (中国羽绒之乡). The industry began in Qiaoxu in the 1980s, when young villagers went door to door trading sugar for duck feathers, and it now covers everything from sorting and washing feathers to making finished down goods. Farm products the district names include Dongjin fine rice (东津细米), Muge white sugarcane (木格白玉蔗) and Muzi Apo tea (木梓阿婆茶). Gangnan eight-tone music (港南八音) and the Muge dragon, phoenix and qilin dance (木格龙凤麒麟舞) are on the autonomous region's intangible heritage list.

Highlights

• Nanshan Temple 南山寺: Founded in 989 in a hillside cave; its stone inscriptions and Song iron bell are protected by the autonomous region since 1963.
• Qiaoxu down industry 桥圩羽绒: Began in the 1980s with door-to-door duck-feather collecting; Gangnan is titled China's Home of Down.
• Gangnan eight-tone music 港南八音: On the autonomous region's intangible heritage list.
• Former Residence of Chen An 陈岸故居: Qing-era brick-and-tile house in Qiaoxu Town, restored with exhibits on the revolutionary Chen An.