High-speed railway station
Qinghe Railway Station
Address: Anningzhuang Xilu (Rd West), Haidian District, Beijing
Beijing Railway Station
Address: No. 13A Maojiawan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Tel: 86-10-51834122
Beijing South Railway Station
Address: No.12 Yongwai Dajie (St), Fengtai District, Beijing
Beijing North Railway Station
Address: No.1 Beibinhe Road (Rd), Xizhimen Beidajie (St), Xicheng District, Beijing
Tel: 86-10-51866852
Beijing West Railway Station
Address: No.118 Lianhuachi Donglu (Rd West), Fengtai District, Beijing
Beijing Fengtai Railway Station
Address: No.4 Zhengyang Dajie (St), Fengtai District, Beijing
Badaling Great Wall Railway Station
Address: Guntiangou Tunnel, Yanqing County, Beijing
Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station
Address: Yaojiayuan Beilu (Rd North), Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: 86-10-51825923
Changping Railway Station
Address: Changliu Road (Rd), Xianiantou Village, Machikou Town, Changping District, Beijing
Beijing City Sub-center Comprehensive Transport Hub
Detailed Description of High-speed Railway Stations and Bus Routes
1. Beijing West Railway Station
Subway: Direct access via Lines 7 and 9. Regular trains exit at Entrance A, while high-speed trains exit at Entrance B.
The station has separate south and north entrances. Passengers taking high-speed trains should enter through the south entrance, while those taking regular trains should enter through the north entrance, which is closer to the waiting halls. The halls are interconnected, allowing passengers to enter from either direction.
Nearby Attractions: Lianhuachi Park (Lotus Pond Park) (right outside the south square exit), Yuyuantan Park (cherry blossoms can be seen from March to April), China Millennium Monument, Military Museum.
2. Beijing South Railway Station
Subway: Direct access via Lines 4 and 14. No need to exit the subway station, transfers are available within.
Nearby Attractions: Taoranting Park (very close), Niujie (less than 10 minutes by shared bike from Taoranting subway station), Yongding Gate, Temple of Heaven, Dahongmen.
3. Beijing Railway Station
Subway: Subway Line 2. Entrance C is for exit only, Entrance D is for entry only, and to enter the railway station from Entrance B, you need to cross the road. There's a shopping mall opposite Beijing Railway Station with supermarkets.
Nearby Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, National Museum of China, the Forbidden City, Wangfujing, National Natural History Museum of China, Monument to the People's Heroes.
4. Beijing North Railway Station
Subway: Take Subway Lines 2, 4, or 13 to Xizhimen Station, Exit A2. Beijing North Railway Station is relatively small, and the subway provides direct access to the station.
Nearby Attractions: Beijing Zoo (very close), Beijing Aquarium, Beijing Planetarium, Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, Xinjiekou, Beihai Park, Prince Gong's Mansion.
Tourists wishing to visit the Badaling Great Wall can take a train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling, with a journey time of 34 minutes and a minimum fare of just 29 yuan.
5. Beijing Fengtai Railway Station
Subway: Direct access via Subway Line 10.
6. Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station
No direct subway access. Public buses or taxis are required to reach this station.
Cities reachable within 1 hour by high-speed railway
Tianjin (5A attractions: Panshan Mountain Scenic Spot, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street Tourist Area, Italian Style Tourist Area; 4A attractions: The Tientsin Eye, Wudadao Culture Tourist Area; National Ocean Museum)
Panshan Mountain Scenic Spot:
Located 15 kilometers northwest of Jixian County, Tianjin, covering an area of 106 square kilometers, Panshan Mountain Scenic Spot is also known as "The First Mountain East of Beijing" due to its majestic position to the east of Beijing. Formerly known as Wuzhong, Xuwu, Sizheng, and Panlong, the mountain is said to have been named Panshan after Tian Chou, a renowned scholar from Wuzhong who refused imperial honors and chose to live in solitude here during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. It is a national scenic area and a 5A-level tourist attraction, renowned for its blend of natural landscapes and historic sites, as well as its integration of Buddhist and imperial cultures, making it an ideal destination for leisure and tourism.
Tianjin Ancient Culture Street Tourist Area:
Also known as Gongnan and Gongbei Streets, this area stretches from Tongbei Road in the north to Shuige Street in the south. It is a commercial pedestrian street that integrates folk culture, tourism, commerce, shopping, leisure, dining, and accommodation. It is also the birthplace of Tianjin culture, recording the formation process of the old city district of Tianjin and harboring rich cultural connotations and historical values.
The Tientsin Eye is situated atop Yongle Bridge, where Zhu Di led his troops across the river centuries ago. It is the only ferris wheel built across the river and integrated with the bridge in the world, serving both tourist and transportation purposes. Standing at 120 meters tall, the wheel is equipped with 48 transparent cabins, each capable of accommodating 8 people. The cabins are spacious and equipped with air conditioning, allowing 384 people to enjoy the view simultaneously. Operating hours vary according to the season. At the peak of the ride, passengers can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area spanning tens of kilometers, with the scenery of Haihe River clearly visible. Located in the heart of the prime area of the Three Forks of the Haihe River, the Tientsin Eye is the most concentrated area of traditional and folk cultures in Tianjin.
Italian Style Tourist Area:
Known as the "Exposition of International Architecture," the "Wudadao" area is the most well-preserved collection of foreign-style buildings in Tianjin and even China today. The "Italian Style Area" boasts original and century-old Italian-style buildings, preserving their authentic charm and history.
Wudadao Culture Tourist Area:
Wudadao in Tianjin refers to a rectangular area located south of Chengdu Road, north of Machang Road, east of Xikang Road, and west of the intersection of Machang Road and Nanjing Road in Heping District, Tianjin. It has a total of 22 roads with a total length of 17 kilometers and a total area of 1.28 square kilometers. Historically, it was once the "outside extended area" of the British concession, with low-lying land that was later filled in. Architects from various countries built houses here one after another. Since the 1960s, Tianjin's urban construction department has collectively referred to the east-west roads in this area, including Chengdu Road, Chongqing Road, Changde Road, Dali Road, Munan Road, and Machang Road, as the "Wudadao" area for unified management. Today, "Wudadao" has become synonymous with small Western-style buildings in Tianjin.
National Ocean Museum:
The National Ocean Museum is located in Sino-Singapore Eco-City, Binhai New Area, Tianjin, with a land area of 15 hectares and a building area of 80,000 square meters, including 23,000 square meters of exhibition space.
The three-story main building of the National Ocean Museum, with a four-story part, focuses its exhibition content on the theme of "Oceans and Humanity". It is divided into three sections: "Ocean Humanities", "Ocean Nature", and "Ocean Ecology", with a total of six exhibition areas and 15 exhibition halls. At the same time, it is equipped with public service facilities such as museum shops, restaurants, cafes, and cinemas.
Zhangjiakou (4A: Dajingmen Scenic Area, Jiming Mountain Scenic Area, Thaiwoo Ski Resort; Nuanquan Town, Grassland Sky Road, Bashang Grassland)
Jiming Mountain, a peak in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, stands majestically and solitarily on the east side of Xiahuayuan, 2 kilometers away from Zhangjiakou City, and 50 kilometers away from the downtown area of Zhangjiakou. Towering and verdant, it is a magnificent, mysterious, and spiritual mountain. Formed by a massive earthquake over a billion years ago, it stands at an elevation of 1,128.9 meters and covers an area of 17.5 square kilometers. With its abrupt mountain terrain, lush vegetation, solitary peak piercing the clouds, and its splendid scenery, it is known as the "Pillar Reaching the Sky." Due to its magnificent scenery, rich history, beautiful landscapes, and profound cultural heritage, it is hailed as the "Little Mount Tai Beyond the Great Wall."
Thaiwoo Ski Resort:
Drawing on the successful experience of large-scale mountain resorts in Europe and America, the Chongli Thaiwoo Ski Resort leverages the excellent natural conditions and convenient transportation advantages of Chongli to create a four-season resort that integrates skiing as its core activity with fashion sports, boutique culture, and leisurely pacing. The project encompasses four major areas: the ski town, scenic lake, mountaintop restaurant, and greenway.
Dajingmen:
Transporting us back to those tumultuous times, Dajingmen silently narrates the story of Zhangjiakou as an important ancient border town. As one of the many passes on the Great Wall, Dajingmen has not only witnessed the prosperity of countless merchants traveling to and fro but also bears the heroic history of resisting foreign aggression and defending the homeland. Standing beneath the city gate, one can almost hear the echoes of history and feel the heavy sense of responsibility and mission.
Nuanquan Town:
Nuanquan Ancient Town boasts a long history. Archaeological materials such as Paleolithic artifacts discovered in the Hutou River valley and numerous Neolithic sites indicate that the town dates back to the Paleolithic Age, over 20,000 years ago.
Grassland Sky Road:
The "Grassland Sky Road" starts from Yehuling on the southern side of Zhangbei County in the west and ends at Huapiling in Chongli County in the east, with a total length of 132.7 kilometers. It is an important passage connecting Chongli Ski Area, Chicheng Hot Spring Area, and Zhangbei Grassland Scenic Area! Although the Grassland Sky Road appears to be just an ordinary asphalt highway on the Zhangbei Bashang Plateau, it has an altitude of around 1,000 meters. Stretching for hundreds of miles, it twists and turns, with dramatic ups and downs, creating a serene and profound atmosphere that seems to lead to the other side of dreams. Along the way, there are seas of flowers, grass as picturesque as paintings, sheep frolicking, and terraced windmills keeping them company.
Zhangbei Bashang Grassland:
Located 70 kilometers northwest of Zhangjiakou City in Zhangbei County, Zhangbei Grassland boasts vast skies and expansive horizons, with grass reaching several feet high, birds chirping in unison, and flowers blooming everywhere, leaving visitors feeling refreshed and at peace. The Grassland Sky Road in Zhangbei, known as "China's Highway 66," is the top destination on my must-visit list. Here, you can breathe in the fresh air to your heart's content, allowing your soul to soar freely in the vast expanse of heaven and earth.
Chengde (5A: Chengde Mountain Resort, the Jinshanling Great Wall; 4A: Saihanba National Nature Reserve; 3A: Yudaokou Grassland Forest Scenic Area)
Chengde Mountain Resort:
The Chengde Mountain Resort was initially constructed in 1703 (the 42nd year of Kangxi's reign) and completed in 1792 after 89 years of work spanning the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns. Covering an area of 5.64 million square meters, it is the largest existing imperial garden in the world. In 1961, it was designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council. The resort was designed according to China's geographical features, with the northwestern mountainous area, southeastern lake area, and northern plain area forming a miniature of China's territory. The garden incorporates natural elements without artificial adornment, with over 120 sets of buildings nestled among the landscape, water, mountains, and vegetation, creating a magnificent spectacle that integrates the elegance of the south with the grandeur of the north and brings together famous scenic spots from across the country. The Mountain Resort and its surrounding temples were inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1994. Visiting the Mountain Resort area allows one to appreciate the profound garden art and rich cultural heritage.
Beyond the continuous palace walls of the Mountain Resort, twelve magnificent and splendid imperial temples stand guard, including Potuo Zongcheng Temple, Xumi Fushou Temple, Anyuan Temple, Pule Temple, Puren Temple, Pushan Temple, Guang'an Temple, Shuxiang Temple, Luohantang, Guangyuan Temple, Puning Temple, and Puyou Temple. Currently, five of these temples are open to the public: Potuo Zongcheng Temple, Xumi Fushou Temple, Anyuan Temple, Pule Temple, and Puning Temple.
The Jinshanling Great Wall:
The Jinshanling Great Wall is a section of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty. It stretches across the Yanshan Mountains, the branch mountains of the Yanshan Range, at the junction of Luanping County, Hebei Province, and Miyun County, Beijing. Starting from the historic pass of Gubeikou in the west and ending at the towering Wangjinglou in the east, it has a total length of 10.5 kilometers. Along the way, there are five major passes, 67 watchtowers, and two beacon towers. Renowned worldwide for its open vistas, dense watchtowers, unique landscapes, exquisite architectural artistry, comprehensive military defense system, and well-preserved condition, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987 and is a national key cultural relic protection unit, a national scenic area, and a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.
Saihanba National Nature Reserve: Saihanba National Forest Park is the largest forest park in northern China, located in the Bashang area of Chengde. It was once part of the famous imperial hunting ground, "Mulan Hunting Ground," during the Qing Dynasty. The forest park covers a total area of 4.1 million acres, including 1.06 million acres of forest landscapes and 2 million acres of grassland landscapes, with a forest coverage rate of 75.2%. Its unique climate and rich history have created special natural and cultural landscapes here.
Yudaokou Grassland Forest Scenic Area: Located on the northern side of Weichang County, Chengde City, and adjacent to Saihanba National Forest Park, Yudaokou Grassland Forest Scenic Area is a place that travelers will pass through when heading to Saihanba National Forest Park. It takes approximately half a day to explore Yudaokou Scenic Area on its own. Driving into the grassland area, visitors will find meadows, lakes, springs, pavilions, and other scenic spots. The environment is exceptionally beautiful, making it an ideal place for photography, picnics, and sightseeing on the grasslands. Additionally, the area offers recreational activities such as horseback riding. Yudaokou Scenic Area primarily serves as a prelude to Saihanba Forest Park, allowing visitors to continue northwards and indulge in the breathtaking grassland and forest scenery of Saihanba after their visit.
Cities reachable within 1-2 hours by high-speed railway
Qinhuangdao [5A Attractions: Shanhai Pass and Laolongtou Scenic Areas; 4A Attractions: Aranya Golden Coast Community, Geziwo Park (Pigeon Nest Park)]
Shanhai Pass Scenic Area:
The Great Wall of China - Shanhai Pass, also called as Yuguan or Linlvguan, is located at No. 1 East Street, Shanhaiguan district, Qinhuangdao City of Hebei Province. It is one of the northeastern passes of the Ming Great Wall. Before 1990, it was considered the eastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall, renowned as one of the "Three wonders of the Great Wall in China" (with Shanhai Pass in the east, Zhenbei Tai in the middle, and Jiayu Pass in the west), the "First pass under heaven," and the "Throat of border counties, the safeguard of the capital." It echoes Jiayu Pass thousands of miles away, renowned worldwide.
Laolongtou Scenic Area:
Located 4 kilometers south of Shanhaiguan District, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, by the Bohai Sea, Laolongtou is where the eastern end of the Ming Great Wall meets the sea. The stone city extending into the sea resembles a dragon's head diving into the waves, hence its name "Laolongtou" (old dragon's head).
Aranya Golden Coast Community:
The community boasts spiritual buildings such as libraries, auditoriums, and art galleries, as well as comprehensive high-quality lifestyle amenities including restaurants, hotels, markets, equestrian clubs, and water sports centers, catering to residents' diverse needs from spiritual to daily, individual to community levels.
Geziwo Park is situated at the promontory of Dongshan in Beidaihe Seashore. There is a huge rock towering approximately 20 meters high and 10 meters thick, facing the east. Below it lies a sea cave eroded by waves, and the surface bears sea-eroded niches sculpted by sea breezes. The cracks crisscross the boulder, where groups of pigeons used to gather or nest in the crevices, earning it the nickname "Pigeon Nest".
Datong (5A Attraction: Yungang Grottoes; Attractions: the Hanging Temple, Yinxian Wooden Pagoda)
Yungang Grottoes:
As one of China's three major grottoes, the Yungang Grottoes are located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, 16 kilometers west of Datong City, Shanxi Province, on the north bank of Shili River. Formerly known as the Wuzhou Mountain Grand Caves Temple, the grottoes were carved during the era when the Northern Wei Dynasty established its capital in Pingcheng (today's Datong, Shanxi). With a history of 1600 years, the grottoes stretch east to west for one kilometer, housing 254 grottoes and niches, including 45 major caves with over 59,000 statues, making them a pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art and representing the highest level of world sculpture in the 5th century.
The Hanging Temple:
The Eiffel Tower, renowned worldwide, stands 300 meters tall, supported by four concrete piers weighing 2,500 tons each. What if a building has no foundation? Can it hang in the air? The Eiffel Tower cannot, but the Hanging Temple can. In 2010, Time Magazine listed the Hanging Temple as one of the "Ten most dangerous buildings in the world," alongside Italy's Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower of Pisa), attracting global attention. The Hanging Temple, a temple floating on a cliff, stands majestically without a foundation of thousands of tons, only supported by a few wooden pillars. Despite enduring various disasters such as storms and earthquakes for over 1500 years, the Hanging Temple remains intact. Here, you'll only hear screams of amazement. Many people believe the Hanging Temple is supported by the dozens of wooden pillars below, but in fact, some of these pillars are non-load-bearing; it is the horizontal beams inserted into the rocks that truly bear the weight.
Yinxian Wooden Pagoda:
Together with the Torre Pendente in Italy and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Yinxian Wooden Pagoda is known as one of the "Three Miraculous Towers in the World." Located in Ying County, Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, the pagoda was built in the second year of Liao Qing Ning Dynasty (1056 AD). It is the oldest and tallest existing purely wooden structure of the pavilion type, a treasure of ancient Chinese architecture, and a model of wooden structures worldwide. The pagoda stands on a four-meter-high platform, reaching a height of 67.31 meters, with a base diameter of 30.27 meters in an octagonal plan. The height of the pagoda is approximately 2.2 times the diameter of its base, creating a sturdy yet dignified appearance that firmly anchors the pagoda to the earth. Constructed with 3,000 cubic meters of red pine timber, weighing over 2,600 tons, the pagoda is entirely made of wood without the use of nails or rivets, standing tall and proud through thousands of years of storms and earthquakes. Valuable Liao Dynasty artifacts have been discovered within the pagoda, including Buddhist scriptures in both handwritten and wooden block-printed forms. Some scrolls exceed 30 meters in length, a rarity in China, particularly the Liao Dynasty color-printed scriptures, which fill a gap in Chinese printing history. These artifacts provide invaluable insights into the political, economic, and cultural aspects of the Liao Dynasty. The pagoda also houses two sacred relics highly revered in the Buddhist world: Buddha's tooth relics, confirmed through research to be remnants of Shakyamuni Buddha's relics.
Jinan & Tai'an (5A Attractions: Baotu Spring Scenic Area, Mount Tai Scenic Area)
Baotu Spring Scenic Area: Surrounded by Luoyuan Hall to the north, Guanlan Pavilion to the west, Laihe Bridge to the east, and an inscription corridor to the south, Baotu Spring boasts three water outlets with crystal-clear and sweet-tasting water, with a maximum water flow rate of 162,000 cubic meters per day. The three outlets of Baotu Spring stand tall, with water gushing up like wheels. "Baotu Soaring into the Sky" has been listed as one of the eight scenic spots of Jinan since ancient times. Numerous small springs dot the pond, sending out strings of bubbles that float gracefully like beads of jade. Throughout history, Baotu Spring has been the symbol of Jinan, and the saying goes, "Without visiting Baotu Spring, one's trip to Jinan would be in vain."
Mount Tai Scenic Area: Mount Tai is the first World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, one of the first national 5A-level tourist attractions, one of the first national scenic spots, a World Geopark, and one of the first national civilized tourist attractions.
Wulanchabu (4A Attractions: Huitengxile Huanghuagou Grassland Tourist Area, Wulanhada Volcanic Geological Park, Wulanchabu Night) One-Day Tour
Huanghuagou Grassland Tourist Area:
Located in the western end of Huitengxile Grassland, Huanghuagou is a winding valley stretching over 10 kilometers long and approximately 300 meters deep, renowned as a famous river valley beyond the Great Wall. This area boasts a unique climate with an average summer temperature of 18°C and a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%, with dozens of flower species. Due to its cool and pleasant summers, many emperors, including Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Tuobagui, the founder of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, have come here to escape the heat.
Wulanhada Volcanic Geological Park:
Another highlight of Wulanchabu, this park is known as a natural "Volcanic Museum." It features a volcanic group discovered on the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, which erupted during the Holocene era. The volcanoes' craters are well-preserved, and the eruption scale is immense, creating a natural volcanic "museum" deep in the grasslands.
"One Step West of Beijing· Wulanchabu Night" is a new landmark for night tours, featuring exquisite Chinese traditional culture as its main theme. It brings together elements of ancient charm, smart night tours, interactive art installations, and scenic spots for photo-taking, showcasing distinct regional characteristics and cultural features.
Located on Temoqin Road, south of the Wulanchabu High-Speed Railway Station, the project spans 500 meters in length and 33 meters in width, covering a total area of 16,500 square meters. It boasts 13 themed performance stages, 21 entertainment photo-taking installations, 80 shops, and two large event squares.
Cities reachable by 2-3 hours of high-speed railway
Qingdao (5A Attractions: Laoshan Scenic Area, Xiaomai Island)
Laoshan Mountain, located in Laoshan district of Qingdao, Shandong Province, was also known as Lao Mountain, Lao Hill, and Ao Mountain in ancient times. It is the main mountain range of Shandong Peninsula. The highest peak of Laoshan Mountain is named Jufeng, also known as Laoding, located at 36°10′N, 120°37′E, with an altitude of 1,132.7 meters. The peak area is about 1.5 square kilometers, making it the main peak of Laoshan Mountain. Laoshan Mountain is the highest peak along China's coastline, earning it the title of "First Mountain of the sea." There is an ancient saying in the local area: "Though Mount Tai is high, it cannot compare to Laoshan Mountain by the East Sea."
Xiaomai Island is located in Laoshan district of Qingdao, 150 meters southeast of the intersection of Donghai Road and Maidao Road. It is a circular island that has recently become one of the hottest tourist destinations. The island is lush with trees and boasts a pleasant environment. From here, one can overlook the distant coastline, presenting a beautiful seaside scenery. It is a beautiful park that combines natural scenery with human history and culture, and a must-visit place for Qingdao citizens and tourists alike.
Luoyang (5A Attractions: the Longmen Grottoes, Laojun Mountain Scenic Area)
Laojun Mountain Scenic Area:
Originally named Jingshi Mountain, Laojun Mountain is the main peak of the eight-hundred-mile Funiu Mountains, a remnant of the Qinling Mountains, with an altitude of 2,200 meters. Later, it was renamed "Laojun Mountain" by Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty after Li Er, the "Keeper of the Archives" of the Western Zhou Dynasty, came here to retire and cultivate himself and was respected as the “Taishang Laojun” by Taoism. This name has been used ever since. It is said to be the place where the founder of Taoism, Li Er, retired and cultivated himself. A temple was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty to commemorate him, and the Iron-topped Laojun Temple was built under imperial orders during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty.
Laojun Mountain has been prosperous in religious activities throughout the ages and is revered as a sacred place of Taoism and a famous mountain in China. Laojun Mountain has well-preserved its original appearance, recording the tectonic evolution process of the southern margin of the North China craton over 1.9 billion years, including rifting, dispersion, accretion, aggregation, collision, and orogeny. Its unique landscapes such as "detached peak forest," stone forests, and Mazong Ridge are breathtaking and are known as a national geological park. Funiu Mountain Global Geopark has extremely high scientific research value.
Longmen Grottoes are located 6 kilometers south of Luoyang City, in the Yique Gorge where Xiangshan Mountain and Longmen Mountain stand face to face, with the Yi River flowing through the middle. It was anciently known as "Yique." After Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty moved the capital to Luoyang, he aligned the main gate of the imperial palace with Yique, and since then, Yique has been commonly referred to as Longmen. Longmen has always been a strategic pass, a vital transportation hub, and a contested territory for military strategists. Known for its picturesque scenery, serene environment, and pleasant climate, it is regarded as the top attraction among the eight scenic spots of Luoyang.
Cities reachable by 3-4 hours of high-speed railway
Nanjing (5A Attractions: Zhongshan Scenic Area including Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Zijin Mountain Scenic Area, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum Scenic Area, Meiling Palace, Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River scenic belt, Boat Tours, Hongshan Forest Zoo)
Zhongshan Scenic Area:
Zhongshan Hill, anciently known as Jinling Hill, comprises three peaks arranged side by side from east to west. Standing in the eastern suburb of the city, it is the main peak of the Ningzhen Mountain Range. It stretches 7 kilometers east to west and 4 kilometers wide at its broadest point, with a continuous expanse of over 10 kilometers. The towering Zhongshan Hill is covered by a vast sea of green pines and cypresses, amidst which lie more than 200 historic sites. Zhongshan Scenic Area is a renowned scenic spot in China, featuring major attractions such as Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum Scenic Area, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Scenic Area, Meihua Hill, Linggu Temple Scenic Area, Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory, Zhongshan Botanical Garden, Beijige Observatory, Jiming Temple, as well as Xuanwu Lake, Fuguishan, Jiuhuashan, Xiaohongshan, and the walls and castles surrounding the lake. This area is home to 28 cultural relics protection units at or above the provincial level.
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is located at the foot of Wanzhufeng Hill on the southern slope of Zhongshan Hill. It is the tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his empress Ma. The construction of the mausoleum began in 1381 AD and was completed in 1413 AD with the erection of the "Great Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Monument of Divine Merit," spanning a period of 32 years. Today's Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Scenic Area revolves around the main mausoleum area, including subsidiary facilities such as the Great Golden Gate, Square City, and Sacred Way, as well as surrounding attractions like Xiamafang, Meihuagu Valley, Meihua Hill, Ming Dongling Mausoleum, and Zixia Lake. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was listed as one of the first key cultural relics protection units in China and was inscribed on the World Heritage List as an extension of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 27th session on July 3, 2003.
Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River scenic belt is a national AAAAA-level tourist area that integrates natural scenery, landscaped gardens, temples and schools, street residences, and local customs. The scenic area centers on the ancient architectural complex of the Confucius Temple, with the Qinhuai River as its axis extending over ten miles, from Dongshuiguan Park in the east to Xishuiguan Park (today's Shuiximen) in the west. Along this "golden land of the south and elegant repository of Jinling," also known as the "ten-mile-long beaded curtain" of the Confucius Temple - Qinhuai River scenic belt, countless famous scenic spots dot the landscape, and countless anecdotes and stories are told.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum is located on the southern slope of the Middle Mao Peak of Zhongshan Hill. It is the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great forerunner of the democratic revolution. The construction of the mausoleum began in January 1926, and the main structure was completed in spring 1929. The enthronement ceremony was held on June 1st of the same year. Subsequent construction continued until the end of 1931. Covering an area of 2,000 acres, the mausoleum is built along the mountainside, facing a flat plain in front and backed by green hills, presenting a majestic appearance. The layout of the mausoleum's buildings is symmetrical, with a total horizontal distance of 700 meters and a vertical height difference of 70 meters from the archway, funeral path, mausoleum gate, and monument pavilion to the sacrificial hall and tomb chamber. There are 392 stone steps and 10 platforms, all constructed with white granite and reinforced concrete and covered with blue glazed tiles. Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum has been listed as one of the first key cultural relics protection units in China and included in the "First Batch of China's 20th Century Architectural Heritage" list. Several commemorative buildings, such as the Music Pavilion, Xingjian Pavilion, Guanghua Pavilion, Liuhuixie Pavilion, and Sutra Pavilion, are located nearby.
Leisure Cruises on the Outer Qinhuai River:
The Outer Qinhuai River not only boasts antique Qinhuai painting boat but also features modern sightseeing yachts. These yachts feature a sleek and elegant appearance, breaking the traditional gondola experience and providing high comfort. Cruising through the picturesque Qinhuai River, where the city and river blend seamlessly, these yachts cater to various needs, be it small gatherings of friends for leisure sightseeing, business negotiations, company annual meetings, group tours, or salon lectures. The leisure cruises on the Outer Qinhuai River offer services such as sightseeing tours, commentary, refreshments, cold buffets, and private boat charters.
