“Southwest Defense” Large Character Inscription

“Southwest Defense” Large Character Inscription

The massive large character inscription “Southwest Defense” beneath the mid-slope cliff carvings on the way down from Elephant Trunk Hill was inscribed in the winter of 1935 by He Xuan, Chief of Staff of the 15th Army of the National Revolutionary Army. It signifies that Guilin has long been the political, economic, and military center of southern China. To establish effective defenses, He Xuan built sturdy bunkers and concealed transport tunnels at Elephant Trunk Hill. To stabilize public morale and boost fighting spirit, he organized well-disciplined and clearly divided spear-and-saber militia teams across urban and rural areas. He also personally wrote the four large characters “Southwest Defense,” each over four feet wide, on the gate of Elephant Trunk Hill and commissioned stonemasons to carve them into the rock, expressing the resolve and determination to resist the Japanese invaders. This stone inscription has been preserved to this day and stands as an indelible mark of Guilin people’s courageous fight against the Japanese aggression.

Address:

Elephant Trunk Hill Park, Xiufeng District, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Phone:

0773-2235151

Official Website: http://www.glxbs.com/

Opening Hours:

Low Season: 7:00–18:30 (November – March)

Peak Season: 6:30–19:00 (April – October)

Admission

Ticket Price

Adults: 70 RMB

Discount Policies

1. Active-duty military personnel, retired military personnel, disabled military personnel, families of martyrs, and retired cadres may enter free of charge upon presenting valid credentials;

2. Persons with disabilities may enter free of charge upon presenting a disability certificate;

3. Elderly individuals aged 70 or above in Guangxi may enter free of charge upon presenting the red-version “Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Preferential Certificate for the Elderly”;

4. Elderly individuals aged 60 or above in Guangxi may enjoy a 50% discount on the attraction ticket upon presenting the green-version “Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Preferential Certificate for the Elderly”;

6. On Double Ninth Festival, the attraction offers free admission to elderly individuals aged 60 or above from Guangxi (with senior citizen ID);

7. Children under 1.2 meters in height may enter free of charge; minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) years and full-time undergraduate students or below may enjoy a 50% discount on the attraction’s listed ticket price upon presenting valid ID such as resident ID or student ID;

8. Residents of Guilin City may enter free of charge upon presenting valid ID; residents of Guilin’s 12 counties and 5 urban districts may enter free of charge simply by showing their valid ID; local students may enter free of charge with their valid student ID;

9. Other discounts are subject to the daily posted rates;

9. Other discounts are subject to the daily posted rates.