Parks in Nanjing

Xuanwu Lake Park

The 472 hectares Xuanwu Lake Park was the largest Imperial lake garden in China’s history. It is also the largest downtown park in the south of China. When inside the park it does not feel like you are in the middle of a huge city. The park is laid in a traditional Chinese fashion with lots of rocks and walkways. You can see both the ancient wall of Nanjing and skyscrapers behind it. ‘Old vs. new’ comes to mind in this spectacular place.

Nowadays the lake park has become one of the top choices of local Nanjingers and international expats for their (evening) fitness. There are nice walk ways surrounding the lake. This is a great place to unwind after a hard day's work. Especially in the evening, this is an ideal place for jogging, relaxing strolling or just going for a walk. Different Nanjingers organize casual walking groups to circle the 444-hectare park or play music and dances. If you are interested to find out how Nanjingers spend their nights, this is the place.

The lake park has various gates. The main gate is ‘Xuanwu Gate’, near Metro Line 1 Xuanwu Lake Park Station. The other main gate is ‘Heping Gate’ with Nanjing Central Station just lying north.

  • Tips
  • The main entrance Xuanwu Gate is also a gate of Ming City Wall. You can pay RMB 15 (known at the time of printing) and get on the gate to take a stroll on the Ming City Wall. The stroll starts from Xuanwu Gate to Shence Gate in the North. It is an ideal session for photo taking and feeling the inner peace, presenting a nice view of the mixture of old and new, urban and nature.
  • Shence Gate is the end stop of this stroll. It is the most well maintained and last opened gate in Nanjing which is easily accessible by metro line 1. Get off the Shence Gate, walk South along Zhongyang Road and you can find metro line 1 Xinmofan Malu (新模范马路) Station Exit 2 or 4. Otherwise, walk Southeast along Longpan Road to access metro line 1 Nanjing Railway (南京站) Station Exit 1.
  • Address:

Xuanwu Gate (main gate), No.1 Xuanwu Alley

  • By metro

Line 1 Xuanwu Lake Park(玄武湖公园) Station Exit 3/4. Walk along Xuanwu Gate Road for about 5 minutes.

OR

Line 1 Nanjing Railway Station(南京火车站) Station Exit 1/4. Walk along Huanhu Road till one of the park’s gates: Heping Gate

  • Tickets:

Free

  • Electric Boat:

(8:30-21:30) Daytime: RMB 50/boat;Night: RMB 100/boat

  • Opening hours

24 hours (with five islands open from 6:00 to 20:00)

  • Tel:

+86 25 5886 9797

 

 

Laoshan National Forest Park

Making for an excellent day out, as well as being heaven for mountain bikers, Laoshan National Forest Park is located on the northern shores of the Yangtze River, west of the Yangtze River Bridge and north of the Yangtze River Tunnel. The Park covers an area of 80 square kilometers with a forest coverage of 80%. In addition to the tree covered undulating hills plus various species of plant life unique to the locale, Lao Shan is also home to wolves, deer, foxes and over 200 other species of animals which each year make the area their breeding ground. Certainly the most convenient way to access Lao Shan is by car. However, bus #168 terminates at the base of the mountain a few hundred metres north of the Pearl Springs Resort. Buses #608, #610 and #611 from Hanzhong Men also stop at the park. From there one can enjoy a day's walking or biking around the mountain, but bring a packed lunch and plenty of water! Once on the mountain, there are no shops!

  • Address:

Jiangpu Crossin Road, Pukou district

  • Tickets:

RMB 33

  • Opening hours:

08:00-17:00

  • Tel:

+(86) 25 58880744

Source by Facebook @DiscoverNanjing