Purple mountain nanjing

• Purple Mountain: Free
• Peak Park: Free
• Purple Mountain Cableway: CNY 60/person for single trip, CNY 100/person for round trip
• Opening hours: all day

Zijin Mountain, also known as Purple Mountain or Zhong Mountain, spans over 3,100 hectares and boasts lush greenery, winding trails, and scattered temples, relics, and mausoleums. Exploring this verdant oasis warrants dedicating at least a full day.

Perched atop the mountain’s western slope lies the Purple Mountain Observatory, housing a collection of domed telescopes and modern research facilities alongside ancient astronomical instruments. Southward, the Botanical Garden showcases over three thousand species of medicinal and ornamental plants, featuring a notable statue honoring Li Shizhen, revered as the pioneer of Chinese botany and traditional medicine. Further east along the central ridge lies the Xiaoling tomb of the inaugural Ming emperor, adorned with the Sacred Avenue, pavilions, and expansive courtyards, with an immense unexcavated burial mound believed to house the emperor’s remains. Continuing eastward stands the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum, drawing pilgrims from both local and overseas Chinese communities. Ascending a grand stone stairway leads to Sun Yat-Sen’s crypt and coffin.

Given its strategic significance as the elevated ground closest to the city, Purple Mountain has served both defensive and offensive purposes throughout history. Being interred here has traditionally symbolized the highest honor bestowed upon individuals whose lives intertwined with the city’s narrative.