China Travel

Hugging an impressive stretch of Nanjing's ancient city walls on its  western shore, its eastern shore graced with beautifully landscaped grounds, Xuanwu Hu (Xuanwu Lake) surrounds a set of charming garden islets connected by causeways, all within view of Nanjing's growing modern skyline on one side and the majestic rise of nearby Zijin Shan (Purple Gold Mountain) on the other.

On pleasant days, Xuanwu Hu Park is alive with Nanjing residents out strolling, picnicking, flying kites, paddle-boating on the lake and otherwise enjoying this beautiful urban green space. Teahouses and vendors abound, as do odd nooks where, even on crowded days, a bit of privacy can be found. A great place for kids, the park houses playgrounds and a small zoo in addition to the paddle boats. Xuanwu's diverse gardens and groves change with the season, making return visits a delight as delicate spring cherry blossoms give way to the riotous floral colors of summer, which in turn fade into the more subdued shades of autumn.

Originally an imperial resort, the park became public property in 1911 with the collapse of the Qing Dynasty. The most impressive remnant of imperial days can be found at the southern end of the park, where the Ming-era Xuanwu Men (Xuanwu Gate) connects to a well-preserved section of the old city walls.