The season of spring blossoms is approaching. With all the rain Nanjing is experiencing at the moment, this year’s blossoming is sure to be a fine one indeed. It therefore comes as great news that 47 tourist attractions in Nanjing shall be offering limited periods of free entry during the spring time. Herein some of The Nanjinger’s top recommendations, together with relevant transportation options to each.
Hongshan Forest Zoo (红山森林动物园)
Free date: September. Normal ticket price: ¥30
With more than 2,600 rare animals in 216 species around the world, Hongshan Forest Zoo has become one of the most distinctive zoos in China, with its unique forest landscape, rich animal resources and various themed events. The zoo attracts more than 5 million visitors from all over the world every year.
Address: 168 Heyan Lu, Xuanwu District (玄武区和燕路168号)
Transportation: Exit 1 of Hongshan Zoo Station on Metro Line 1
Nanjing Bridge Park (南京大桥公园)
Free date: 13 March. Normal ticket price: ¥15
Flower beds and fountains on both sides of Nanjing Bridge Park are symmetrically arranged, while in the bridge museum inside the park, which will also be free of charge on the same date, an interesting introduction and history of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is on show. By taking the elevator, tourists can also reach the sightseeing platform on the bridge to overlook the Yangtze River.
Address: 7 Baotaqiao Dong Jie, Gulou District (鼓楼区宝塔桥东街7号)
Transportation: Bus No. 12 to Nanbao Park West Stop (南堡公园西站)
Gaochun Old Street (高淳老街）
Free date: 10 May. Normal ticket price: ¥60
Gaochun Old Street has been praised by tourists as “No.1 ancient street of Jinling” (金陵; a former name of Nanjing). Gaochun Old Street is located on Tunxi Street, Gaochun District, and is also known as Tunxi Old Street, the commercial center of Gaochun. Here are to be found the best preserved ancient buildings in Jiangsu Province, and the most well-preserved ancient street from both the Ming and Qing Dynasties in East China.
Address: 114 Zhongshan Jie, Tunxi Town, Gaochun District (高淳区城淳溪镇中山大街114号)
Transportation: Gaochun Station on Metro Line S9 and transfer to Gaochun Bus No.101 / Bus No.105 to Dianchiyuan Stop (泮池园站)
Nanjing Folk Museum (南京市民俗博物馆)
Free date: 18 May. Normal ticket price: ¥20
Nanjing Folk Museum is a witness and epitome of the culture of old Nanjing. Exhibiting Nanjing folk culture and intangible cultural heritage, visitors can learn about the basics of more than 100 intangible cultural heritage projects in Nanjing Folk Museum.
Address: 46 Daban Alley, Qinhuai District (秦淮区大板巷46号)
Transportation:Exit 3 of Sanshanjie Station on Metro Line 1
Jiangning Imperial Weaving Museum (江宁织造博物馆)
Free date: 18 May. Normal ticket price: ¥30
Located in the Daxinggong area of Nanjing, the modern The Jiangning Imperial Weaving Museum is built on the original site of Jiangning Weaving, a government-run organisation, specialising in the production of royal and official satin in the Qing Dynasty. The Jiangning Weaving Department survived for more than 260 years, witnessed the whole history of Qing Dynasty, while the museum today houses ancient Chinese robes and cheongsams collected from all over the world.
Address: 123 Changjiang Lu, Xuanwu District (玄武区长江路123号)
Transportation: Exit 2 of Daxingggong Station on Metro Line 2
Confucius Temple Dacheng Hall (夫子庙大成殿)
Free date: 19 May. Normal ticket price: ¥30
The Dacheng Hall of Nanjing Confucius Temple is the main hall of the Confucius Temple in Nanjing. With the largest Confucius portrait in China hung in the middle of this hall, 15 kinds of ancient ritual instruments, such as bells and braids, are regularly played during performances that show ancient music from more than 2,000 years ago.
Address: Nanjing Confucius Temple, 152 Gongyuan Jie, Qinhuai District (秦淮区贡院街152号南京夫子庙内)
Transportation: Exit 2 of Fuzimiao Station on Metro Line 3
Yuyuan [Hu’s Garden] (愚园[胡家花园])
Free date: 19 May. Normal ticket price: ¥20
Yuyuan is a famous Jiangnan garden in the late Qing Dynasty and is known as “Jinling Lion Park”. The outer garden has hills and Yu Lake, while the inner garden is dominated by architectures such as rockery and halls. Yuyuan is famous for the view of its rockery and lake; the stream striking the stone makes a pleasant sound. Althought it was destroyed five times during wars, Yuyuan has recently been restored by the School of Architecture of Southeast University, based on the hand-painted drawings of Jiangnan Park and other historical information.
Address: 45, Mingyang Jie, Qinhuai District (秦淮区鸣羊街45号)
Transportation: Sanshanjie Station on Metro Line 1
Jiezi Garden Cultural Exhibition Hall (芥子园文化展馆)
Free date: 21 May. Normal ticket price: ¥20
Jiezi garden is the residential villa of a celebrity from the early Qing Dynasty called Li Yu (李渔), a famous writer who made great achievements in many fields. He wrote “Occasional Notes with Leisure” (闲情偶寄) to discuss various phenomena in art and life, such as drama, song and dance, costumes, gardening, etc. He was also the first writer in the history of Chinese drama to have specialised in comedy. Jiezi (芥子) refers to the seeds of vegetables and the name Li Yu means that small seeds can accommodate a mountain, meaning that simple and small things often contain profound philosophies. Jiezi garden is a representation of Liyu’s lifestyle, and while it occupies less than three acres, it has a pavilion, lake, bamboo forest, waterfall and everything all true Jiangnan gardens should have. Known as one of the smallest and most classic gardens in southern Jiangsu.
Address: 32, Santiaoying, Qinhuai District (秦淮区三条营32号)
Transportation: Exit 2 of Wudingmen Station on Metro Line 3
Niushou Mountain (牛首山文化旅游区)
Free date: 11 July. Normal ticket price: ¥98
Niushou Mountain, also known as Tianzhu Mountain, is named because the shape of the mountain looks like an ox head with the two peaks as the horns. Besides of the splendid scenery, Niushou Mountain in history is a well-known Buddhist shrine, containing some Buddhist sacred remains such as the Hongjue Temple Tower. The world’s most sacred Buddhist object, Sakyamuni Buddha’s parietal bone relic is also nshrined in Niushou Mountain.
Address: 18 Ningdan Avenue, Jiangning District (East Entrance) (江宁区宁丹大道18号（东入口）
Transportation: Exit 2 of Tianlongsi Station on Metro Line 1 and transfer to Bus No. 755 to Niushoushan Stop (牛首山风景区站)
Former Residence of Qin Dashi (秦大士故居)
Free date: 19 May. Normal ticket price: ¥8
The former residence of Qin Dashi was an important part of the “Qinhuai Residential Group” (秦淮民居群), while Qin Dashi himself was a prolific 18th century artist and calligrapher. Representative of architectures in both Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Address: 57-61 Changle Lu, Qinhuai District (秦淮区长乐路57-61号)
Transportation: Wudingmen Station on Metro Line 3
