The fragrance of dangui, ancient charm and vitality coexist, it has never lacked a reason worth visiting

Yuejiang Building; © Nanjing Small Fish/FigureWorm Creative

In the city of Nanjing, famous for its ancient capital of the Six Dynasties and the jasper of Jiangnan, there is no shortage of time marks and witnesses. From the mottled walls to the sparkling royal gardens, from the mausoleums of great men lined up to the Yangtze River Bridge that has witnessed a historical leap, the city has never stood still and stands still, and with the Qinhuai River flowing together, it gives every traveler inspiration and novelty.

Today, let the LP lead you to find the ancient Jinling landscape in the scent of osmanthus flowers in early autumn, punch in the vitality landmarks, and synchronously cross the exquisite space and long years of the "Stone City".

There are countless monuments on the banks of the Qinhuai River

©FATTY_ZHAN/Figureworm Creative

The winding city walls carry the vicissitudes of the ancient capital, the Confucius Temple has witnessed the prosperity of the "Heavenly Hub", and the Ten Mile Qinhuai has silently precipitated the sorrows and joys of Nanjing City, still slowly flowing in the shadow of the paddle lights. For thousands of years, many influential figures have created a foundation in this land of "Dragon Pan and Tiger", and have left one city after another and the tombs of emperors and generals in the landscape of Zhong Lingyuxiu.

©only one@ Bin/Figureworm Creative

Nanjing is like a history museum integrated into urban life, recording the vicissitudes and splendor of every brick. Among the rows of Guangsha, the neat and uniform plane trees and the Republic of China architecture that combines Chinese and Western styles still continue the style of a hundred years ago, condensing the wind and bones of the city and the symbol of Nanjing.

Sycamore, Southeast University; ©Zhangzhugang,CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Walk in from the "still old" Mensi

"Repair the old as old" Old Gate East Historical and Cultural District

Feel the old look and new look of the old city south

The "gate" of Mendong and Menxi is the Zhonghua Gate. Since Zhu Yuanzhang founded the city, this is the gathering place of traditional houses in Nanjing, and it is also a place with a strong atmosphere in the old Nanjing city.

After being "restored" and built, Mendong has become a bustling tourist area. Nanjing Academy of Calligraphy and Painting (No. 50 Scissors Lane; Free; Closed on Mondays) is located in the scenic area, the main body is the Jinling Art Museum, not only the works of international emerging artists, but also the collection of classical Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The Old Town South Memory Hall on the south side of the first floor can learn about the changes and folklore of the old city south.

Old Mendong; © Tree Shadow M Ma Hongwei / Figureworm Creative

The west of the gate west of Zhongshan South Road is diametrically opposed, where the real city life of the old city south is preserved - the streets and alleys are lined with dense bungalows, and the chaotic wires are suspended between the roofs, which at first glance looks a little broken, but when you inadvertently walk into Yingao Lane, Xiaoshunli, Drinking Horse Lane, and Tongxiang Gongjing, and see the ancient building "ID card" nameplate with the construction date and layout on the outer wall of the house, there will be some respect.

The humble barber shop, car repair shop, tailor shop, bathhouse and breakfast shop are still the same styles as they were decades ago, and the only thing that stands out is the uniformly made signboard. These small shops have been subsisting on the neighborhoods of Menxi Lane for decades, and now they also attract young people to punch in from time to time because of their retro temperament.

After crossing Mingyang Street to the west, Menxi changed into a different style. The small garden Yuyuan (Hujia Garden No. 1) was once Xu Da's western garden, and the Qing Dynasty became Hu Xuzhai's private garden. There is a Yuedong Xinmenxi Sports Fashion Industrial Park next to the city wall. The large rooftop space next door offers specialty coffee drinks, as well as fun boutique cultural creations.

In the Nanjing Museum, among the countless treasures in the collection

Travel through Three Thousand Years of Nanjing

The predecessor of the Nanjing Museum was the Preparatory Office of the Central Museum of the Republic of China. In the "One Hospital and Six Museums", more than 430,000 collections cover various categories from ancient times to modern times, including the Collection of the Imperial Palace in Shenyang and the Qing Palace in chengde Summer Resort when cultural relics moved south, and the number of precious cultural relics is second only to the Palace Museum.

Facing the main entrance, a Liao Dynasty style building is the former site of the Preparatory Office of the Central Museum, which was built in 1936, and is now a history museum, which details the ancient civilization history of Jiangsu from ancient times to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Including the wrong gold and silver copper pot of the Warring States, the Guangling King Seal and silver jade cloth of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the bamboo forest seven sages brick painting of the Southern Dynasty, the glass components of the Ming Da Bao'en Temple, and the complete glass arch of the Dabao'en Temple Pagoda and other national treasure-level cultural relics.

©Siyuwj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Take the kids around Nambour

The museum has a special audio guide for young people, which introduces more than 100 cultural relics to children from the perspective of children and simple and vivid language (children's guides have more cultural relics than adult guides). Stroller or wheelchair rental is also available at the service centre.

The large fossils of ancient animals in the first exhibition hall of the history hall can grab the attention of children at once.

Travel through time and space at the Republic of China Pavilion, in addition to shopping, you can also take your children to eat something here to replenish their physical strength, plus take a basket of photos.

Finally, to the digital museum, this high-tech historical paradise is entertaining and educational, using modern means to present historical facts such as humanities, religion, and art, and a variety of interactive games will also make children unable to move their feet.

By making an appointment in advance on the official account, you can let your child become an archaeologist in the children's experience room on the first floor, go to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum to watch a puppet show, or make an appointment to participate in research or intangible cultural heritage activities on the official website or WeChat public account.

After circumnavigating Xuanwu Lake, climb the Ming City Wall

Take in the panoramic view of Nanjing's shanshui city forest

Xuanwu Lake (free, 24 hours around the lake area) is the largest royal garden lake in China. Bordered by Purple Mountain in the east, Ming City Wall in the west, Jiming Temple in the south, and Nanjing Railway Station in the north, it is now the largest and most popular urban leisure park in Nanjing. The five tree-lined islands of Liangzhou, Yingzhou, Lingzhou, Cuizhou and Huanzhou are the essence of Xuanwu Lake, which are connected by bridges and embankments and connect with the shores of the lake.

©Celtics2020, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Liangzhou is the most abundant island, where the Six Dynasties, Ming, Qing and the Nationalist government have left their remains. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang made Xuanwu Lake a royal forbidden place for establishing the "Central Archives" Yellow Book Library in Liangzhou, and this history can be learned from the "Yellow Book Library Ruins Cultural Exhibition" in the Ancient Lake Temple.

©helkonig, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You can also check out the unique cultural and creative goods and souvenirs at the pioneer bug bookstore and the pioneer poetry bookstore on the island, or stop for a cup of coffee in the shaded courtyard outside the bookstore. In addition, cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in spring, lotus can be enjoyed in summer, chrysanthemums can be enjoyed in Liangzhou in autumn, and snow can be enjoyed in winter.

If you want to feel the charm of Xuanwu Lake in all directions, we recommend entering the lake area from Xinzhuang Station through Cuizhou Gate, where the Nanjing skyline with Zifeng Building as the landmark in the distance is reflected in the lake, and the silhouette at sunset is particularly beautiful. From here, pass through Cuizhou, Liangzhou and Huanzhou to Xuanwumen, then climb the city wall and walk through the most beautiful city wall from Xuanwumen to Taicheng.

Taicheng; © Shi Shi, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Walk into the Zhongshan Scenic Area the tranquil mountain forest

Visit the Mausoleum of the Great Man

Zhongshan is also known as Purple Mountain. This "land of dragons" in Zhuge Liang's mouth has a wealth of historical sites and is also the burial place of many influential figures, so there are dozens of large and small scenic spots. Five of the most important scenic spots are merged into the Zhongshan Scenic Area (WeChat public number: Nanjing Zhongshan Scenic Area), including the Ming Tombs, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Music Station and Linggu Scenic Area.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; ©502/Figureworm Creative

More remnants of the Republic of China architecture, as well as the tombs of the Ming Dynasty, the Republic of China and a small number of important figures of the Six Dynasties, are scattered in the forests around the scenic spot, which is very suitable for history lovers to visit the ancients.

Ming Xiaoling Ming Lou; © Autumn Shadow with the Wind/Figureworm Creative

Zhongshan, with a vegetation coverage rate of more than 80%, is also a good place to enjoy flowers, wash your lungs and ascend. Plum blossoms bloom all over Meihua Mountain in February and March, Golden Guixiang Piaoling Valley Temple in September and October, Golden Autumn in October, and the Stone Elephant Road blessed by Cailin entered the highlight moment, creating the "most beautiful 600 meters" in Nanjing, you can get relevant activities and festival information through the WeChat public account.

From the dragon's neck on the east side of Zhongshan Mountain, you can take a ropeway or hike to the second highest peak of Zhongshan, Toudaling (425 meters above sea level), and you can see the mountains, water, city and forests of Nanjing City.

Climb aboard the bridgehead of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

Watch the "dragon" span the graben and the ancient and modern

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, which was completed and opened to traffic in 1968, is the first railway and highway dual-purpose bridge on the Yangtze River designed and built by the Chinese. To this day, ordinary trains and high-speed trains from Jiangbei to Nanjing Station still mostly cross the river from here.

©Legolas1024, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The bridgehead on the south side of the bridge is located in Nanbao Park, and the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge Memorial Hall on the first floor of the bridgehead introduces the construction process of the Yangtze River Bridge, and also shows the evolution of the equipment, tools and railway tracks used to build and maintain the bridge.

©董辰兴, CC BY-SA 4.0,via Wikimedia Commons

You can also take the elevator from here to the iconic red flag of the top platform of the bridgehead and enjoy the panoramic view of the bridge and the Yangtze River.

In the exhibition hall on the 52nd floor of the Golden Eagle Art Museum in Hexi New District

Together with the paintings, they are imaginative

The Jianye district, southwest of Nanjing, was still full of villages and farmland at the end of the 20th century, and is now the second largest CBD (Central Business District) in East China after Lujiazui in Shanghai. The two-way ten-lane central axis is lined with high-rise buildings on both sides, and a series of new landmarks in Nanjing, such as the Golden Eagle World Tower and the Youth Olympic Twin Tower, have risen from the ground.

©Evan Godt/shutterstock

Young Hexi is also a cutting-edge art front, with the new Jiangsu Grand Theater, Poly Theater and various art galleries have successively settled here, and many Internet celebrity punch points have also been derived. If you have half a day to spare, you may wish to check out the "fashion city" outside the "historic city" label.

The Golden Eagle Art Museum is located here, you can stand in the middle of the central business district, overlooking the high-rise buildings outside the floor-to-ceiling glass window, while enjoying the brain-opening theme art exhibition, it is really imaginative.

Come to Three Seven Eight Lane

At The Snack Stalls of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Nanjing people's favorite taste is in the vegetable market in the neighborhood, where there are always a few old shops that have been in business for more than ten years, but because there is no dine-in, you better buy a little to taste each one, or take it away. These small shops usually close around dinner.

On the way from Wudingmen subway station to Laomen East, you will pass the 378 Lane Market, which is also close to the Confucius Temple, including 378 Lane, Lei Gong Lane and Carpenter Camp. Walking into the archway of Lane 378, the first honey juice lotus in Nanjing on the left is the long-established branch of Ruijin Road. In the doorway to the right of a few meters ahead, although the dumb dumplings were randomly opened for half a day, they were lined up as long as they were open.

Dumb egg dumplings (renamed silent egg dumplings); Provided by childish 735080340

Back at the intersection, turn left into the carpenter's camp, the blue sign of the small Chen skinny duck shop and continue to go not far away from the skillful wonton is also a favorite old shop in the neighborhood, in the non-meal, you may be able to buy some cooked food in other shops to eat together, but you must make a quick decision. Further ahead, the Guangfuyuan soup bun was overcrowded at any time, and it was closed after noon when it was sold out.

At the Red Mountain Forest Zoo

Feel responsible travel in all directions

The 85% of the zoo's undulating terrain is covered with greenery, giving you the feeling of seeing animals in the midst of nature's mountain forests. More than 260 kinds of animals live in the park, including the 17 venues on the slopes of The Little Red Mountain, which is dominated by birds, the Big Red Mountain, which is dominated by predators, and the Cattle Herding Mountain, which is dominated by primates and large herbivores, and the Panda Hall and Koala Hall are the most popular.

In order to show the nature of animals rather than cater to human needs, Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo is the first zoo in China to cancel animal performances. Led by the director, the team, who truly loves animals, not only constantly renovates the venue to improve the living conditions of the animals, but also uses modern technology to rescue animals - 3D printing a monkey with front teeth and a red-crowned crane with a broken mouth in a fight. They also spent three years sending a baby orangutan home.

But this ordinary and unusual zoo is a self-supporting institution, and all its expenses come from tickets. Even if the "self-inflicted" expenditure is extremely large, the Red Mountain Forest Zoo has not neglected the protection of ecology and the environment. In September 2018, the zoo launched the "Animal and Plant Waste Resource Utilization Project", which processes animal waste and garden plant waste in the park into a series of processing to produce soil biological improvers for plant base fertilizer and planting substrate – two elephants in the Asian Elephant House are the main "suppliers" of this project.

Most of these "fertilizers" are used for plant feed such as bamboo, pear trees, and peach trees in the animal feed base, as well as for the fertilization and maintenance of garden plants in the park, and the animals also eat the rations that are nourished by their own poop and become more fragrant. In May 2020, the Red Mountain Forest Zoo zoo mall was launched, in addition to the local specialty "poop fat", painting talented orangutan paintings, there are many special products and souvenirs, you can enter the purchase from their weChat public account of the same name, each product has its own story behind it, and may also help these big little guys.

The zoo has been recruiting volunteers for a long time, carrying out various public welfare activities such as animal rescue, and opening popular science classes, and can also adopt small animals, all of which can be learned through the website or WeChat public account.

What are your memories of Nanjing?

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