Viewing scenic areas
Zhenjiang, a marvelous place with rich resources and outstanding people, is surrounded by three mountains including Jin Mountain, Jiao Mountain and Beigu Mountain, which are national key scenic areas and Baohua Mountain and Nanshan Mountain National Forest Parks. Here is a place where you can have a joyful natural travel while viewing these scenic areas.

Jin Mountain Scenic Areas
Jin Mountain is suited in the North-West of downtown, with the height 43.7 meters, covers an area of 10 hectares. The shape of Jin Mountain is that of a golden turtle, flowing in the Yangtze River. It is one of the national key scenic spots and national 4A tourist region. There are over 30 scenic spots and relics in the whole Jin Mountain scenic areas and each of them has a touching legend and mythology.

There are several temples located on the slope of the Jin Mountain. Jinshan Temple, located on the slope that was built over 1,600 years ago, is the most famous for a legend about a white snake that turned into a girl and married a young scholar named Xu Xian. A monk, Fa Hai, tried again and again to undermine their marriage. Out of indignation, the white snake summoned a deluge and flooded Jinshan Temple. The legend is listed among the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage publicized by the State Council.

Furthermore, there are four treasures enshrined in the temple: Ding of Zhou Dynasty, Bronze Timbal of the famous military counselor Zhu Geliang, jade belt of famous poet Su Dongpo and the drawing of Jinshan Temple by the artist Wen Zhengming.

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Jiangtian Budda Temple, Jinshan Temple, Cishou Pagoda, the Mahavira Palace, Fahai Buddha Cave, Four-Treasure Exhibition Hall, Furong Buliding
2. Admission: RMB 50
3. Getting there: Located at the North-West of downtown, buses (i.e.No.2) and taxis are easily available to get there

Jiao Mountain Scenic Area
Jiao Mountain is five kilometers from downtown, with a height of 70.7 meters it covers an area of 38 hectares. It is one of the national key scenic spots and national 4A tourist regions. With ancient trees and tall bamboos, it looks like a green jade flowing in the river; for this reason people give it another name, “flowing jade mountain”.

As a national key protective relic unit, cliff inscriptions and forest of steles are worth visiting. The forest of steles is the second biggest in China, among which, “Yihe Inscriptions” is most worthy of visitation.

All the buildings, pavilions and towers are built under old trees, forming a scene of temples hidden by trees, hills, directly contrary to the scene of Jinshan Temple. Dinghui Temple will show you the architecture style of the Qing Dynasty

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Dinghui Temple, Forest of Steles, Yihen Inscriptions
2. Admission: RMB 50
3. Getting there: Located five kilograms from downtown, buses (i.e.No.4) and taxis are easily available to get there.

Beigu Mountain Scenci Area
Beigu Mountain is located in the downtown of the city, with the prime peak of 58.5 meters. It is one of the national key scenic spots with reputation of “the first landscape of China”.

Beigu Mountain is famous for many descriptions during the “Three Kingdom” period, especially for Ganlu Temple. If you stand on the top of the mountain, viewing the front river and mountains, the feeling of “powerful and magnificent battlefield” will come to your mind.

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Ancient Ganlu Temple, Beigu Tower, Iron Tower
2. Admission: RMB 40
3. Getting there: Located in the downtown part of the city, buses (i.e.No.4) and taxis are easily available to get there.

Mao Mountain Scenic Area
Mao Mountain belongs to national 4A tourits region, one of the Chinese top ten scenic spots of taosim. The prime peak of Mao Mountain is 307 meters, the shape of which is like a Chinese character “?”. Mao Mountain is well-known for its straight peaks, mysterious caves, running springs, distincitve stones and ancient trees. The Maoshan Taosim Temple is the birthplace of the Qing Faction of Taoism and is also one of the national key open temples. It was initially bulit 2,000 years ago in the West Han Dynasty and regarded as “the Eight Sight” and “the First Holly Land” by Taoists. If you are interested in Taosim, here, you can not miss this spot.

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Laozi Statue, Jiuxiao Wanfu Palace, Huayang Cave, Mao Maoutain Memorial Hall of New Forth Army
2. Admission: RMB 70
3. Getting there: Located in the Ju Rong of Zhenjiang City, buses and taxis are easily available to get there.

Baohua Mountain Scenic Area
Baohua Mountain is located in the north of Ju Rong, 32 kilometers from downtown Zhenjiang. The highest peak of Baohua Mountain is 437.2 meters. It owns 36 ridges and peaks, which looks like 36 lotus peals, while the temple sits well in the middle of this lotus. Baohua Mountain was also titled for National Forest Park, the forest coverage reaches 92%.

Baohua Mountain is well-known by its green trees, graceful peaks, deep caves and curling mist and clouds. Baohua magnolia, a prehistoric living fossil, grows only here. Furthermore, Baohua Temple of Baohua Mountain played a very important role in the Buddhism history of China. Rongchang Temple has 1,500-year history and is the highest institute of learning Buddhism, so it is called “the First Mountain of Vinaya”.
Don’t be hesitated, you can choose climbing, hiking, viewing, recreation, drawing and pilgrimages here.

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Rongchang Temple, Copper Palace, No-beam Palace, Nine Caves
2. Admission: RMB 35
3. Getting there: Located in the Ju Rong of Zhenjiang City, buses, shuttle buses and taxis are easily available to get there.
   

Nanshan Mountain Scenic Area
Nanshan Mountain National Forest Park, a provincial sight, is located in the center of the city and regarded as the “lung of city” and its “natural oxygen bar”. There are more than 60 kinds of trees and 70 kinds of fowls in Nanshan Mountain National Forest Park.

Here, the prince Xiao Tong wrote “Zhao Ming Collection”, which is the oldest poem collection that remains in China; Liu Xie, a famous critic of Nan Dynasty wrote the first literature theory works in China; and Mi Fu, a great painter of the Northern Song Dynasty founded the Drawing Sect of “Mi’s Style”. More than 100 scholars left their articles to appreciate Nanshan Mountain. This is definitely a delightful place for you in Zhenjiang.

Tips:

1. Recommended attractions: Zhaoyin Temple, Bamboo Forest Temple, Hu Pao Spring, Lu Pao Spring
2. Admission: RMB 40
3. Getting there: Located in the center of Zhenjiang City, buses (i.e.No.15) and taxis are easily available to get there.