The pagoda
Over the lake.
Quentin Scouflaire from Berlin, Germany — CC BY 2.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · BlueSkySummer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Johnson0323 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 2.0 · xiquinhosilva — CC BY 4.0 · 史氏 — CC BY 3.0
One of Nanjing's oldest temples, on a hill near Xuanwu Lake, its name meaning «rooster crowing». It was first built in 527 under the Liang dynasty, then destroyed and rebuilt many times; the present temple dates from 1387, under the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming. Its halls climb the hillside beneath a seven-storey pagoda overlooking Xuanwu Lake, and behind the temple is an entrance onto the old Nanjing city wall at its Taicheng section; visitors are asked to keep quiet and respect worshippers. In spring the road leading up to it becomes an avenue of cherry blossom that draws the whole city. Tickets cost CNY 10 including incense, more on festival days, and it is open from 7.30 am to 5 pm; the cherry avenue outside is free, usually in bloom from late March to early April, per visitor guides.
Over the lake.
In spring.
Behind the temple.
Jimingsi Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Zifeng TowerA skyscraper in central Nanjing, 450 m tall with eighty-nine floors, completed i13 minutes walk
Xuanwu LakeNanjing's largest park, a wide lake in the heart of the city near the main railw13 minutes walk4.6
Presidential Palace, NanjingA historic compound in central Nanjing that has seen six centuries of Chinese hi23 minutes walk4.2Usually from late March to early April; the avenue leading to the temple is free and gets crowded at weekends, so arrive early in the morning, per visitor guides.