The Most Beautiful Autumn in Nanjing｜One-Day Tour of Zhongshan Scenic Area

Visiting Nanjing in November is not just about seeing autumn; it's about stepping into a long splash painting colored by the misty waters of the Six Dynasties and brushed by the rain and wind of the Republic of China era. Bring a relaxed heart and take a walk in Nanjing’s autumn. 🗺️ Here is my one-day itinerary for Zhongshan Scenic Area: 📍 Muxuyuan Metro Station → Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Gate 3 → Yanque Lake → Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum → Internet-famous Bridge → Wutong Avenue → Meiling Palace → Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum → Music Stage Stop 1: Exit from Exit 1 of Muxuyuan Station on Metro Line 2, then walk about 10 minutes to Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Gate 3. Walk forward to Yanque Lake, where the mist rises from the water and cedar trees reflect beautifully—perfect for photos. Enjoy the lake scenery reminiscent of "Little Kanas of Nanjing." Stop 2: Enter Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area officially from Gate 3. Route: Shixiang Road Sacred Way (the most beautiful 600 meters) → Wengzhong Road Sacred Way → Jinshui Bridge → Wenwu Square Gate → Stele Hall → Enjoy Hall → Fangcheng Ming Tower. From Fangcheng Ming Tower, you can overlook the entire Zhongshan area. Stop 3: Exit from Gate 5 or Gate 7 of Ming Xiaoling, cross the road to enter Lingyuan Road. The so-called "Internet-famous Bridge" is not a single bridge but refers to the natural "archway" corridor formed by the intertwined branches of French plane trees on both sides of the upper section of Lingyuan Road (near Meiling Palace). This is a classic photo spot where you can capture Wutong Avenue, Zhongshan Scenic Area, and the shuttle sightseeing cars. Stop 4: Walk north along Lingyuan Road for about 10-15 minutes to Meiling Palace. This walk itself is an immersive experience of a "green tunnel." Visit this Republic of China official residence known as the "First Villa in the Far East." The main building resembles a necklace gem, and the interior restores the living scenes of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling. Stop 5: Take the scenic area sightseeing car from the nearby "Meiling Palace Station" directly to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum parking lot. Climb the 392 steps to pay respects to the great leader’s tomb and feel the solemnity of "The world is for all." Stop 6: Walk about 5 minutes from the west side of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Memorial Hall to the Music Stage. Rest here and watch pigeons flying around the classical music stage. You may bring a small amount of bread crumbs (please feed responsibly). Tips: ❗️Buy combo tickets in advance; Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is free but requires prior reservation. ❗️The scenic spots are spread out and far apart; using the sightseeing car wisely saves a lot of time and energy. ❗️Wear comfortable shoes for extensive walking throughout the scenic area. 🍁A line of plane trees, filling Nanjing city with autumn leaves🍂 Keep this autumn viewing route and come experience the stunning autumn colors of Jinling.