day trip in Nanjing

Towering in the eastern suburb of Nanjing, Purple Mountain (Zhongshan Mountain National Park) has been known as one of the four most famous mountains in Southern China. It got its name because purple clouds can often be seen at the top of the mountain. The mountain is not only very beautiful, but also rich in historical and cultural relics. The mountain covers a total area of 31 square kilometers (12 square miles), with more than two hundred scenic spots, including fifteen key historical and cultural relics under state protection and one world cultural heritage site, the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty. The Purple Mountain consists of four core scenic areas, including the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum Scenic Area on the southern slope, the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty Scenic Area to the west of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and the Linggu Temple Scenic Area to the east, and the Toutuo Ridge Scenic Area on the mountain top.