Nanjing on the Yangtze River

Nanjing is the capital of the eastern Jiangsu province in China. It is located about 300 km up the Yangtze River from the city of Shanghai. During part of the Ming Dynasty, it was the national capital.

There are many impressive temples, monuments, and landmarks among them Zhonghua Gate or Gate of China, a preserved 14th-century section of the massive wall that contained the old city’s southern entrance.

Amazing Qixia Temple is a sacred site found on Qixia Mountain, 22 km southeast of Nanjing. It was founded by the Buddhist monk Ming Sengshao during the Southern Qi Dynasty. It remains an active place of worship. Today it is still one of China’s largest Buddhist seminaries. Visitors enjoy the mountain’s maple trees in the spring when they burst forth in crimson and bronze colors.

Behind the temple is the Thousand Buddha Cliff where you can find several grottoes housing stone statues carved right into the cliffside.

The Linguu Temple Scenic Area is an expansive temple complex and includes one of the historic buildings in Nanjing the Beamless Hall. It was built in 1381, containing no beam support, and was built of brick and stone.

Uphill at the rear of the temple is the colorful Linguu Pagoda a nine-story, 60 m high octagonal pagoda dating from 1933.

Ming Xiaoling Tomb is the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was the only Ming emperor buried outside of Beijing.

The area surrounding the tomb is known as the Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area where a tree-lined pathway around the pavilions leads to picnic grounds and ends at scenic Zixia Lake.

The first section of this marvelous mausoleum is a 618 m “spirit path” that is lined with stone statues of lions, camels, elephants, and horses meant to drive away evil spirits and guard the tomb. Among them are two mythical animals – a xie zhi which has a mane and a single horn on its head and a qilin with a scaly body, a cow’s tail, deer hooves, and one horn.

Plum Blossom Hill is toward the south of the mausoleum. The planting of plum trees here dates back to the Six Dynasties. This hill is famous as the “No. 1 Plum Blossom Hill under Heaven”. The plum blossom garden has over 13,000 plum trees from more than 400 species. This is one of the four plum blossom gardens found in China. The fragrant flowers bloom from late February to mid-March.

Sun Yatsen Mausoleum is located at the top of a huge stone stairway consisting of 392 steps. Dr. Sun is esteemed by both communists and Kuomintang and is referred to as guofu, “Father of the Nation”. He died in Beijing in 1925 and it was his wish to be buried in Nanjing. At the beginning of the path is a dignified marble gateway, topped with a roof of blue-glazed tiles. The blue and white mausoleum symbolizes the white sun on the blue background of the Kuomintang flag.

A prostrate marble statue of Dr. Sun seals his copper coffin.

To the west of the parking lot of Dr. Sun Yatsen’s Mausoleum is the Meiling Palace built in 1931. Looking from above the Mausoleum Road resembles a necklace and the palace seems to be an emerald. It has been referred to as the “Official Residence on the Red Hill” because at one time it was the residence of the chairman of the National Government.

Zahn Garden is a wonderful traditional Chinese garden right in the heart of town. Visitors delight in the willows, acres, magnolias, bamboo, potted bonsai pines, and a beautiful lawn. The garden has also been decorated with courtyards, pools, corridors, and rookeries. Part of the garden is The Taiping History Museum.

Taiping Heavenly Kingdom History Museum was once home to Taiping officials. The museum displays maps that show the progress of the Taiping army, Taiping coins, weapons, uniforms, and texts that describe the radical Taiping laws on agrarian reform, social law, and cultural policy.

The Buddhist Jiming Temple was first built in 527 AD. during the Three Kingdom period.

Xuanwu Lake Park is a vast lake in a lovely 530-hectare park that has five interconnecting islands. The park has bonsai gardens, camphor and cherry blossom trees, temples, and bamboo groves. It sits at the foot of Mt. Zhongshan and is one of the three most famous lakes in Nanjing. The lake got its name because a black dragon was said to be on the lake.

The Yangzi River Bridge opened on December 23, 1968, and is one of the longest bridges in China. It is a double-decker with a 4.5 km road on top and a train line below. On the approaches, you can see socialist-realist sculptures. The easiest way to get on the bridge is through Bridge Park. Unfortunately, this bridge has become the world’s premier suicide site, surpassing even the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California in the U.S.

Presidential Palace after Taiping took over Nanjing the Mansion of the Heavenly King was built on the foundation of a former Ming-dynasty palace. The palace was reconstructed and is now known as the Presidential Palace and has a classical Ming garden.

The Ming Palace Ruins lie scattered about Wuchaomen Park. The palace was built by Zhu Yuanzhang and served as a template for Beijing’s Forbidden City. You can climb atop the ruins of Meridian Gate. In the park, you can see local residents practicing ballroom dancing while saxophonists, clarinet players, and other musicians gather together in the resonant tunnels beneath the gate.

Visit the historic campus of Nanjing University. It is a lovely campus with traditional architecture, lovely trees and green spaces.

Towering above the eastern suburb of Nanjing is the awesome Purple Mountain which is known as one of the four most famous mountains in southern China. It got its name because purple clouds can be seen at the top of the mountain. The mountain is also rich in historical and cultural relics. It covers an area of 12 square miles and has over two hundred scenic spots.