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Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao)

Situated in the south part of Nanjing and surrounded by the Qinhuai River, the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) is one of the city’s most popular attractions.  Confucius Temple consists of a cluster of symetrically arranged buildings and covers an area of over 26,000 square meters.&nbs...

Situated in the south part of Nanjing and surrounded by the Qinhuai River, the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) is one of the city’s most popular attractions.  Confucius Temple consists of a cluster of symetrically arranged buildings and covers an area of over 26,000 square meters.  The temple is home to excellent examples of both Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. However, the biggest draw for most Nanjing locals is the great food and shopping.

History

Confucius Temple was founded in 1034. In antiquity, the temple was a site where people could make sacrifices to Confucius (孔子, Kong Zi), arguably China’s most celebrated ideologist and educator. The temple also served as a marketplace for merchants as well as a center where culture and arts thrived.

In 1985, the municipal authorities decided to "renovate" Confucius Temple in order to keep up with the times.  A series of tourist shops, snack bars, restaurants and hotels set up shop here with the goal of enabling Confucius Temple to better express a combination of traditional and modern beauty.

There are many places of historical interest  within Confucius Temple, such as Jiangnan Gongyuan (江南贡院) and Wuyi Xiang (乌衣巷).  Jiangnan Gongyuan was the largest imperial examination place in ancient China. Constructed during the Song dynasty, potential government officials were examined and selected here. Wuyi Xiang, or “Black Clothes Lane”, was named after the Wu soldiers, who wore black uniforms. During the Jin dynasty, Wuyi Xiang became the residence of Minister Wang Dao, followed by Minister Xie An, and finally a few of Nanjing’s noble families.  During the Tang dynasty, a famous Chinese poet named Liu Yu Xi wrote a poem here: Gone are the swallows at Wang-Xie’s Mansion into the houses of the common.

Shopping

In addition to common boutiques, there are many shops in Confucius Temple that feature local folk crafts and commodities, unavailable in other parts of the country. Tourists can buy various Nanjing specialties including Nanjing brocade, Jinling gold foil, Jinling folding fans, wood carvings, Rain flower pebbles, Nanjing dried salted duck, Yuhua tea and much more. Generally speaking, the initial price quoted by the peddlers will be much higher than the price you can bargain down to, so it’s advised to learn how to bargain Chinese style before making purchases.

Food

It is worth the trip here just for the food, because Confucius Temple boasts a variety of delicious snacks. Duck blood and bean-starchy vermicelli, Jellied bean curd, fried scallion pancakes, beef soup, beef-stuffed Guo Tie (lightly fried dumplings), spiced broad beans, Huangqiao Sesame Seed Cake are just a few of the delicacies on hand.  All of these treats are mouth watering, yet not too expensive.

Boat Rides

An evening cruise on the Qinhuai River is a wonderful experience. Nanjing skyscraper’s neon city lights light up the river at night. Many kinds of boats are available for rent. Paddle boats are a cheaper option. However, "Qibanzi", a type of boat with a roomy cabin and cane chairs on the deck, is a little bit expensive, but less tiring and more comfortable.

Getting There

Take the No. 1 bus.  The No. 1 bus stops at every Subway station from Nanjing Railway Station Station to Xinjiekou.  If you are far away first take the Subway to Xinjiekou and then take the No.1 from there. 

Any cab driver in the city will know how to get to "Fuzi Miao".

Confucius Temple during Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival is held on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year.  From the first week of the Chinese New Year, Confucius Temple begins to get busier and busier until the climax of the Lantern Festival.  The crowds become so large and busy during the Lantern Festival that hundreds (if not thousands) of police officers are required to control the throngs of people.


Confucius Temple during the Lantern Festival.  Photo taken by Ishw.


Another shot of Fuzimiao at night during the Lantern Festival.


The main square shown in this picture is divided in two by a
wall of police officers during the Lantern Festival.


The mascots for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. 

Presidential Palace

Presidential Palace was the Office of the President of the Republic of China before the republic relocated to Taiwan in 1949.
It has a long history since year 1853, Taiping Revolution of Heavenly Kingdom, and after that Hong Xiuquan occupied Nanjing.
In 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen moved...

Presidential Palace was the Office of the President of the Republic of China before the republic relocated to Taiwan in 1949.
It has a long history since year 1853, Taiping Revolution of Heavenly Kingdom, and after that Hong Xiuquan occupied Nanjing.
In 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen moved in as the provisional president of the Republic of China.
Till, now you can still see the same decoration of their offices, their conference place and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen`s living room.
There also have a garden back of the palace, where you can take a break and enjoy the view of the green plants.

 

Buses 游1, 游2, 29, 44, 65, 95 and 304 stop at The Presidential Palace.

Dr Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum

The Dr Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum was built in 1926 in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), who is recognized as the Father of Modern China.  He led the rebellion against the corrupt Qing government resulting in the 1911 re...

The Dr Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum was built in 1926 in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), who is recognized as the Father of Modern China.  He led the rebellion against the corrupt Qing government resulting in the 1911 revolution which put and end the feudal system. In turn, the Republic of China was founded. The mausoleum is situated at the foot of the south face of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan, 紫金山), and it has become a must-see tourist destination for all visitors to Nanjing.

   

The construction of the mausoleum is symmetrical, and it serves as a fine example of classical and modern beauty. Entering the mausoleum in sequence is the torii, the corridor, the gateway, the monument, the memorial hall, and finally the tomb. A long stone stairway of 392 steps leads up to the tomb which lies at the rear of the memorial chamber. Outside the memorial chamber there is a tablet featuring the inscription of the “Three Principles of the People”: nationalism, democracy and people’s livelihood, which were formulated by Dr. Sun.  Inside the hall stand black granite poles and a statue of Dr. Sun sculpted from white marble. Within the tomb a prostrate marble statue of Sun seals his coffin, which was buried five meters underground.
 

Music Stage (Yinyue Tai, 音乐台)
10 yuan entrance fee

Directly to the east of Zhongshan Mausoleum is the music stage.  It isn’t much to see unless you are interested in the music.  The music can even be heard echoing in the forest quite a distance from the stage.  To find the stage, take a right near the ticket booths in the area leading up to Zhongshan Mausoleum. 

  

Sun Yat-sen and Museum (孙中山书院和纪念馆) 10 yuan entrance fee

Paintings of Dr. Sun and a library can be found in the Sun Yat-Sen Museum. Only those with a deep interest in Dr. Sun should be sure to stop by the museum, otherwise continue on to the Linggu Temple area.


 

Bus no. 9 as well as travel bus nos. 1, 2, and 3 (游1, 2, 3) all stop at the Mausoleum entrance.

Xuanwu Lake Park

Close to the city center and featuring 368 hectares of water and 104 hectares of land, Xuanwu Lake Park is a favourite getaway for locals.  Well before the sunrise and even after sunset, the park is bustling with visitors. Some come to walk, jog, or fly kites, others to practice Ta...

Close to the city center and featuring 368 hectares of water and 104 hectares of land, Xuanwu Lake Park is a favourite getaway for locals.  Well before the sunrise and even after sunset, the park is bustling with visitors. Some come to walk, jog, or fly kites, others to practice Tai Chi, and many more just want to enjoy the scenery

To the east of Xuanwu Lake is Purple Mountain, to the north is Nanjing Train Station, and to the west and south Nanjing’s skyscrapers stretch high above the City Wall that was built during the Ming Dynasty.  Paved paths circle the entire perimeter of the lake and several forested islands within the lake that are linked by causeways.

The best time to visit Xuanwu Lake Park is during May and June.  By visiting the park in late Spring, Nanjing city will not have the opportunity to show you why it is famed as one of the three furnaces of China.

 

Activities

 

Taking a walk along the edge of Xuanwu Lake is an activity in itself, but if you seek something more specific read on.

Jogging

For the serious jogger, Xuanwu Lake is a suitable place to jog year round.  There are still a few cars on the road, but compared with the busy city streets, it is far superior and safer.  The roads and street lamps were upgraded in 2006, so the park is an excellent place to jog after sunset.

During the summer, the best times to go for exercise are in the early morning and late evening, because that is when temperatures are the coolest. In fact, in the middle of the summer the morning is noticeably cooler than the evening.

See more about Nanjing’s climate

Paddle Boats

Four person paddle boats cost 25 yuan per hour and require a 50 yuan deposit.  Paddle boats can be rented to the east and west of Nanjing Train Station or to the north of the Xuanwu Gate.

Walk, Relax, Etc.

Xuanwu Lake Park is a popular place to take a romantic walk. In the evening Chinese couples fill up the benches overlooking Xuanwu Lake.  Some more adventurous couples park their cars (which include tinted windows, wink, wink) or set up tents.

Cycling

The roads along Xuanwu Lake form the ideal setting for a ride around Nanjing.  Unfortunately it seems that cycling is not allowed as the guards often try to prevent people from taking bicycles within the park.  However, if a visitor is persistent, makes an excuse, or enters through a nearby gate, the guards usually let it slide.

The entire northeast side of the lake is not actually part of the park.  This means that there is no gate to go through if you just want to bike in that area, but it also means that if you want to bike around the entire lake, you may be hassled by guards twice (once to enter and once to re-enter).

 

Fireworks

During Chinese New Years Festival, hundreds, if not thousands of people flock to Xuanwu Lake to set off fireworks – some bring boxes of fireworks the size of refrigerators.  Be warned, setting off fireworks is far from safe.  In many countries, fireworks of this caliber are only legally used by professionals.

Fishing

A popular fishing spot in Xuanwu Lake is on the north side, just to the east of Nanjing Train Station.  However, people can be seen fishing at many places around the outside of the lake and inside the inner islands. 

  

 

The Inner Isles of Xuanwu Lake

Open 7:00am-9:00pm
Entrance Fee: 20 Yuan.

Inside Xuanwu Lake are 5 isles that are suitable for a scenic walk and contain many small tourist attractions such as Lama Temple, small amusement park rides and the "Temple of Xuanwu Lake God."

 

How to Get There

 

Xuanwu Lake takes up a very large area and there are several places from which to enter the park.  Here’s a list of the busier entrances in clockwise order.

Xuanwu Gate

Xuanwu Gate (Xuanwu Men, 玄武门) is next to the Xuanwu Gate subway station at the intersection of Hunan Lu (湖南路) and Central Road (Zhonyang Lu, 中央路).  From the subway station, the park entrance is just a three minute walk east, passing by the convention center (南京市规划建设展览馆).  Xuanwu Gate’s appearance is also the biggest and most impressive.

North and East Sides

The official park does not stretch around the north and east edges of the lake. Still, there are several other places that allow you to reach the edge of the lake including Nanjing Train Station and Lovers Garden.  The southeast corner features Taiping Gate while Peace Gate is just to the west of Nanjing Station. Neither gate’s appearance is particularly significant.


View of Xuanwu Lake from the Nanjing Train Station

Jiefang Gate

Jiefang Men (解放门) is a couple blocks North of Beijing Dong Lu (北京东路) and the municipal government building.  You can get to the top of the city wall from this gate.

 


Xuanwu Lake is a popular spot to light fireworks during the Chinese New Years Festival.

 

Nanjing Union Theological Seminary

Established in 1952, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary was designated the national seminary of the Church of China. Originally it represented a union of twelve seminaries in eastern China until the Beijing Yanjing Seminary joined it in 1962.

Nanjing Union The...
Established in 1952, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary was designated the national seminary of the Church of China. Originally it represented a union of twelve seminaries in eastern China until the Beijing Yanjing Seminary joined it in 1962.

Nanjing Union Theological Seminary has, since its beginning, focused on training pastoral workers, teachers, and researchers. In order to promote overall development of the students in both spirit and theological knowledge, the Seminary emphasizes "spirit, virtue, knowledge, health, and community".

As the only national seminary in China, the structure of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary is similar to that of universities and colleges in secular society. It has two regular programs: the four year Bachelor Degree of Theology and the three year post graduate Master Degree of Theology. In addition, it has a three year correspondance education program. All students are nominated by their regional church and must pass a written test and interview before being admitted to the Seminary.

Nanjing Seminary is on a new campus in Jiangning District. The original campus will continue to be used as a research center. The new campus lies in the center of Jiangning University City and covers an area of approximately 33 acres (125,000 square meters) with an aim of accommodating 500 students. The current design of the new campus includes the following functional areas: worship area (the campus church), teaching and administrative areas, sports facilities, student residence area, and a front garden.

Offical Website (Chinese only)

Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre (1937-1938) is located on one of the sites where actual human bones from the victims themselves were excavated.  It is the biggest official memorial place of the Nanjing Massacre, also known as "The Ra...
The Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre (1937-1938) is located on one of the sites where actual human bones from the victims themselves were excavated.  It is the biggest official memorial place of the Nanjing Massacre, also known as "The Rape of Nanjing".  The Memorial Hall holds museum status and is the first museum in China commemorating the War of Resistance against Japan from 1937 to 1945.  It has received over 8 million visitors from home and abroad since its founding in 1985.  In order to increase awareness concerning the massacre committed by the Japanese aggressors, the Nanjing City Committee of the Communist Party of China and the city government have subsidized the museum to allow free admission for all visitors.
 
Upon entering the hall, visitors will see a big bell with an inscription urging people not to forget history. Further along inside, a path of bronze footprints representing 222 witnesses of the tragedy stretches in front of visitors.  A building named "wan ren keng", which means pit of ten thousand corpses, houses the skeletons excavated at Jiangdong Gate.  In the Exhibition Room and Movie Room numerous pictures, audio recordings, and videos document the massacre.  In the Reading Room, there are archives and other materials related to the Nanjing Massacre.
 
The Memorial Campaigns
 
Every year at 10:00am on December 13th, loud air-defense sirens can be heard across Nanjing.  The sirens mark the Nanjing Massacre and remind people not to forget this national humiliation.  Buses and cars honk their horns in remembrance of the 300,000 deaths from the slaughter.  People from all walks of life, from home and abroad, flock to the Memorial Hall to mourn the dead. They hold candles and chrysanthemums, stand in silent tribute, and light candles at night to commemorate the 300,000 compatriots.
 

 
Take bus 7, 37 or 61 to Chanan bus stop (茶南站).  You can see the walls of the Memorial Hall from the bus stop.  Walk forward about 100 meters to reach the gate.  It is also right next to the Nanjing Brocade Museum.

 

St. Pauls Church

Established in 1923, St. Paul’s Church is the first official Christian church in Nanjing. The church’s design is meant to imitate the style of European churches in rural areas. It is gothic architecture with...

Established in 1923, St. Paul’s Church is the first official Christian church in Nanjing. The church’s design is meant to imitate the style of European churches in rural areas. It is gothic architecture with  exquisite decoration. The inner structure reflects traditional Chinese style. The walls were built with polished stones taken from Nanjing’s ancient city walls. However, the main structure is built from delicately carved white marbles. Lections were carved carefully on the inner walls and are adorned with some gold foil. A bell tower which contains a bell 2 meters in diameter sits on the roof of the church.

 
Sunday Christian Worship - Every Sunday from 11:00am to noon St. Pauls holds a Christian service in English.  If you go, you should get there by 10:50am.

Ming Tomb, Plum Blossom Hill and Purple Cloud Lake

Lying on the west side of the southern foot of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan, 紫金山), the Ming Tomb Scenic Area contains the Ming Tomb as well as Purple Cloud Lake and Plum Blossom Hill.
 
Not...
Lying on the west side of the southern foot of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan, 紫金山), the Ming Tomb Scenic Area contains the Ming Tomb as well as Purple Cloud Lake and Plum Blossom Hill.
 
Note: There are many different English translations of ’明孝陵’, including “Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum,” “Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty,” “Ming Xiaoling,” “Xiaoling Tomb,” and “Ming Tomb.”  We will call it the “Ming Tomb” to keep it simple, but keep in mind that you may come across the other translations.
 
Ming Tomb
 
Nanjing became the capital of China when Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368.  During his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang built the great city walls of Nanjing, the imperial palace, and his future tomb - the Ming Tomb in Nanjing.  The Ming Tomb is a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-see for travellers to Nanjing.
 
 
Leading up to the impressive Ming Tower is the long, winding “sacred path”. You will also pass other impressive structures including Square City (built in 1413), Imperial Tablet Hall (1699), and the Sacrificial Palace (1383). The first two legs of the path are lined with pairs of stone statues of lions, camels, elephants, unicorns, xiezhi, and kylin as well as four pairs of ministers and generals who have accompanied the buried majesty in perpetuity.
 
Zhu Yuanzhang and his wife are actually not buried in the tower (which is why it is called a tower and not a mausoleum). Instead they are buried behind it in the treasure mound – a forested hill that is surrounded by a 7 meter high, 1000 meter long circular wall of bricks.
 
Plum Blossom Hill
 
Plum Blossom Hill takes its name from the pink plum blossoms that blanket the hill when they are in bloom. To the south of Plum Blossom Hill across the sacred avenue are Plum Blossom Valley and a youth hostel.
 
Purple Cloud Lake
 
Purple Cloud Lake is an ideal spot to spend an afternoon relaxing outdoors. Not suprisingly, “No Swim” signs lining the edge of the lake are no deterrence to many locals that enjoy the waters.  That being said, it should be known that many people have drowned in the lake’s deep waters.
 
 
How To Get There
 
The Ming Tomb area is quite easy to locate. It is a good starting place from which to move on towards the hiking trails further up the mountain and to other tourist attractions located along the south face of Purple Mountain.
 
Bus #20, 游1 (travel 1, you 1), 游2 and 游3 all stop at several locations bordering the Ming Tomb scenic area.  The Square City bus stop is the best place to start a scenic walk up the sacred path towards the Ming Tower.  The bus stations on the east of the scenic area are convenient for leaving the area or for reaching other sections of Purple Mountain.
 
Unknown to most, there is actually a way to get to Ming Tomb area from a path above.  This path splits off from the hiking trail that connects the observatory with the mountain top.  See the Purple Mountain article for more info.
 
On the final leg of the path up to the Ming Tower there is a shop that sells excellent detailed maps of the entire Ming Tomb area.

Purple Mountain

 
Purple Mountain is known as the “lung of Nanjing” and for good reason.  This massive, forested park area situated within Nanjing boasts fresh and cool air compared to the muggy, polluted ...
 
Purple Mountain is known as the “lung of Nanjing” and for good reason.  This massive, forested park area situated within Nanjing boasts fresh and cool air compared to the muggy, polluted city center.
 
There are loads of tourist attractions within Purple Mountain.  Each of these destinations may be considered a go-to destination on its own.  It is not possible to visit every last site on Purple Mountain in one day or even in a couple of days.
 
Most of the main tourist attractions are on the south side of the mountain.  Hiking trails crisscross the mountain in every direction.
 

Hiking

 
The mountain contains a huge network of paths.  There are several entrances and from each entrance, paths converge and criss-cross all the way to the top of the mountain. Neither English nor Chinese maps encompass the entire network of paths on Purple Mountain.  Signs along the paths on Purple Mountain are difficult to decipher even for people fluent in Chinese. 
 
Taiping Road Entrance and the Tramline
 
The most popular spot to begin a hike is close to the entrance of the tramline.  This route starts at the westernmost point of the mountain area and is a relatively easy hike.
 
There are many buses that stop at White Horse Park (白马公园) on Taiping Road (太平路) and Longpan Road (龙蟠路).  Buses that stop at White Horse Park include numbers 125, 44, 79, 48, 308 and 315.  
 
From the White Horse Park bus stop a 15 minute walk up the road takes you to the tramline station and marks the official beginning of the trail.  Buses 20 and Y3 (游3) travel right past White Horse Park on Taiping Lu (太平路) and up to the tramline entrance.
 
The Tramline
 
The tramline runs from 9:00am-4:30pm Monday to Friday and 8:30am-5:30pm Saturday and Sunday.  The ride takes about 30 minutes to reach the mountain top and about 15 minutes to reach the observatory.  Tram tickets cost 25 yuan per adult and 15 yuan for children under 1.3 meters tall.
 
The tramline in the late afternoon.
 
Hiking from the Tramline Entrance Area to The Observatory and Mountain Top
 
Walking up the slowly ascending road to the observatory takes 45 minutes if you maintain a brisk pace and do not take any breaks.  If you are not sure whether or not you want to hike all the way up the mountain, remember that you will have another opportunity to hop on the tramline from the observatory.  If you want to continue hiking, follow the small, unkept path just to the left of the entrance to the observatory.  This path leads to a 3-path intersection.  Turn right and walk about 50 meters to get to the tramline.  Keep going straight to head for the main peak of the mountain.  From this point on, just keep heading upwards on the main path or on one of the several smaller trails.  Hiking up the main path should take another 45 minutes without breaks.  Another spot on the main path leads down towards the Ming Xiaoling Tomb.
 
 
Yingtuo Village Entrance
 
On the northwest side of Purple Mountain, the Yingtuo Village entrance leads to a steeper and more direct route to the peak.  Thin stairways lead all the way to the top of the mountain. However, these stairs can become fairly busy when the weather is pleasant.
 
To find the Yingtuo Village entrance, follow Bancang Street (板仓街) to Yingtuo Cun, (Yingtuo Village, 樱驼村).  The entrance is rather insignificant (see picture).  If you don’t watch for the road you might think it’s just another alley.
 
There’s not much fanfare about  
the Cherry Village Entrance.  
 
The trails are busy when the weather is nice.
 
Linggu Pagoda to The Mountain Peak
 
A gently sloping cement and stone road leads all the way from the mountain peak to the Linggu Pagoda.  It takes 1.5 hours to walk this route if you do not take breaks.  Likely because there are no notable viewpoints along this route, it is very lightly travelled.
 
 
Mountaintop Park (山顶公园)
 
The park at the top contains a large Buddha statue and a small clearing.  Tickets to this park cost 4 yuan.  Tickets are free for children under 1 meter, adults over 70, and people with physical handicaps.  Those seeking only the premiere, most worthwhile attractions can certainly skip this one.
 
Tips
 
For 120 yuan you can purchase a year card that allows you to access all of the attractions listed below except for Underwater World.  This card is well worth the money even if you are only planning to visit these attractions once.  The card can be purchased at the entrances to any of these areas, however you must bring a passport sized photo.  If you do not have a photo you can pick up 8 photos for 20 yuan at a store near the ticket booth for Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum.  You can also pick up photos at a booth which is in front of Underwater World and near one of the entrance gates to the Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area.
 
Water and other refreshments cost about twice as much on the mountain as they do nearer to the ground.  For example, a bottle of water costs 2 yuan near the bottom but costs 3.5 yuan at the top.
 
Nanjing is almost always foggy and/or smoggy, but if you plan on staying in Nanjing for an extended period of time, try to wait for a clear day to hike up the mountain.
 

Tourist Attractions

 
Most tourist attractions are on the south side of the mountain.  Most can be reached by bus and some require a short hike as well.
 
  Ming Xiaoling (明孝陵)
  Plum Blossom Hill (梅花山)
  Purple Cloud Lake (紫霞湖)
  Sun Yat-sen Museum (孙中山纪念馆)
  Music Stage (音乐台)
  Linggu Temple and Linggu Pagoda (灵谷寺和灵谷塔)
  Beamless Hall (无梁殿)
  Tomb of Tan, Yankai (谭延闿墓)
Meiling Villa (美龄宫)
Purple Mountain Observatory (紫金山天文台)
Underwater World (海底世界)

Drum Tower (Gu Lou)

The drum tower (Gulou, 鼓楼) was built in 1382 during the Ming Dynasty.  It was later damaged and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty.

Originally, the drum tower was used to signify the changing of the guard. On rare instances it was also used to warn the populace of an emergency such as a...

The drum tower (Gulou, 鼓楼) was built in 1382 during the Ming Dynasty.  It was later damaged and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty.

Originally, the drum tower was used to signify the changing of the guard. On rare instances it was also used to warn the populace of an emergency such as an impending attack or fire. From its hilltop setting, the drum tower allowed for an incredible view of the city in years past. However, the view now seems quite limited due to the high rise office and apartment buildings.

On the third floor there is a collection of photos depicting the old Nanjing. Some photos date back to as early as 1888. For a bit of a fun challenge, examine the old pictures and try to figure out which area of Nanjing they are from.

The drum tower lies on Beijing Xi Lu (北京西路) in the Drum Tower district (Gulou, 鼓楼区). It is adjacent to a large traffic circle that is at the junction of Beijing Dong Lu (北京东路), Beijing Xi Lu (北京西路), Central Road (Zhongyang Lu, 中央路), Zhongshan Bei Lu (中山北路) and Zhongshan Lu(中山路). It is also within walking distance of the Gulou subway station.