Nanjing Presidential Palace
The Xiyuan where the Presidential Palace is located has a history of more than 600 years, dating back to the early Ming Dynasty. It has also witnessed the rise and fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Liangjiang Viceroy's Office. It is well known that after the victory of the Xinhai Revolution, Dr. Sun Yat-sen took the oath of office here as the Provisional President of the Republic of China, and this place became the central location of the National Government. The entire garden integrates Chinese and Western styles, with small bridges and flowing water, pavilions and towers, the layout of classical gardens in Jiangnan, and Western-style office buildings.
Jiming Temple
When it comes to the origin of Buddhism, Jiming Temple is considered the foremost among the 480 temples. Located on the eastern slope of Jilong Mountain, Jiming Temple was built during the Western Jin Dynasty and is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nanjing. It has been known as the 'First Temple of the Southern Dynasties' and was the Buddhist center of the Southern Dynasties in China.
The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is one of the must-visit attractions in Nanjing. It is the tomb of Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of China's modern democratic revolution. In 1961, it became one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The main buildings are arranged along the central axis, and the entire mausoleum is shaped like a 'warning bell,' earning it the title of 'the first mausoleum in the history of modern Chinese architecture.' The architectural style of the mausoleum combines Chinese and Western elements. The grandeur of Zhongshan Mountain, along with various archways, gatehouses, stele pavilions, altars, and tomb chambers, forms a magnificent whole through vast green spaces and wide steps leading to the sky, making it extremely spectacular.
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the joint burial site of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and Empress Ma. It is named after the posthumous title 'Xiaoci' given to the empress. Despite over six hundred years of vicissitudes, it still maintains a grand and majestic layout. It is the largest imperial mausoleum in Nanjing and one of the largest ancient imperial mausoleums in China. Notably, the autumn scenery here is layered and very beautiful.
When visiting Nanjing, there is one place you must not miss—the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. The gray and white building is grand and solemn, representing a pain that this city can never avoid and a scar that will never fade from our hearts. The entire exhibition hall is divided into three parts: the outdoor exhibition area, the bone remains display, and the historical data display, recreating the tragic history of the Nanjing Massacre.
Zhan Garden was first built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, and it has a history of over 600 years. It is the oldest existing garden in Nanjing and is known as one of the Four Great Gardens of Jiangnan, along with Jichang Garden in Wuxi, Humble Administrator's Garden, and Lingering Garden in Suzhou. The garden features elegant and grand Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, steep and rugged rockeries, serene and simple pavilions and terraces, the world-renowned Northern Song Dynasty Taihu stone, known as the 'First Tiger Character Stele in the World,' and the world's earliest air-conditioned building, the 'Bronze Pavilion.' It is highly scenic and particularly suitable for night tours, offering an immersive ancient experience that is breathtakingly beautiful.
