Discover Nanjing: Ming History, Qinhuai and Xuanwu Lake

Nanjing combines impressive Ming history with waterscapes and extensive parkland. This makes the city an appealing destination for a trip that brings together historic sites and outdoor experiences. Families may be drawn to a wide range of discoveries: the history of imperial tombs, the scenery along the Qinhuai River or Xuanwu Lake.

Ming History in the Zhongshan Scenic Area

Ming Xiaoling is the mausoleum of Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming dynasty, and his consort, Empress Ma. The tomb of the first Ming emperor broke with earlier traditions and established the basic form for later imperial tombs. Examples cited in this context include the Xianling Tomb in Zhongxiang and the Western and Eastern Qing tombs. A visit can therefore offer a glimpse into the influence of a single tomb complex.

The Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area has four core areas: the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Ming Tomb area, the Linggu area and the open-air music hall. Zhongshan Mountain National Park is home to more than 200 historical and cultural attractions. The park covers about 31 square kilometres and has roughly 80 percent forest cover. These dimensions give an outing a different character from a visit to a single museum or building: nature and historic sites together shape the character of the area.

The Ming Tomb Museum is a museum at an archaeological site that presents the World Heritage site of Ming Xiaoling. Visitors who prefer to explore the history through a museum visit will find their own way into the subject here. The Ming Tomb area is accessible via Metro Line 2 to Muxuyuan Station; from there, you can continue on foot or take a sightseeing bus. This choice between walking on and taking the bus applies to getting around the area and can be factored into your day’s plans.

Qinhuai: River Scenery and Culture

At the heart of the Qinhuai Scenic Area is the Confucius Temple, with the “Ten Miles of Qinhuai” section as its main axis. The area also includes Chaotian Palace and Xinanli. At the same time, the scenic area protects the Qinhuai River and the character of the riverside landscape on both banks. Those interested in urban history and water can explore both aspects together, without reducing them to a single attraction.

Sightseeing boats are available today along the “Ten Miles of Qinhuai” section. The water sightseeing service was restored in the 1980s and 1990s. Meihua Mountain has repeatedly served as the main venue for Nanjing’s International Plum Blossom Festival; this connection is also part of the area’s cultural history, without implying a future event date.

A Lake, a Park and Paths as Further Travel Highlights

Xuanwu Lake is in Xuanwu District and covers 3.78 square kilometres. It offers a variety of leisure and entertainment activities. This gives it a different appeal from the historic sites: here, the lake takes centre stage as a scenic and recreational destination. The Nanjing Ming City Wall, in turn, offers a route through the city’s history. It is about 22 kilometres long and has 25 visitor access points along its course. Its length and the number of access points are useful details to consider when deciding how much of your trip to devote to a stay along the wall.

When choosing a holiday rental in Nanjing, it may help to consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay: Ming history, Qinhuai, or the lake and park. The places mentioned reflect different interests and can be included in your travel plans accordingly. Find more destinations in Suzhou, Nantong, Xuzhou, Lianyungang, Huai'an, Changzhou, Zhenjiang and Taizhou.

For the broader travel overview: Jiangsu.