Zhongshan Mountain National Park(Purple Mountain)

Zhongshan Mountain National Park, also known as Purple Mountain, stands at an elevation of 448.9m. From west to east, the mountain features three major attractions: Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum area, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and Linggu Temple. Among these, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum are must-visit attractions when traveling to Nanjing.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the burial site of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Ascending the steps, visitors can see the Fraternity Arch, tomb pathway, mausoleum gate, stele pavilion, sacrificial hall, and burial chamber aligned along the central north-south axis. Inscriptions like "Fraternity" and "The World Belongs to All" on these Republic-era style buildings reflect Sun Yat-sen's ideals. Southeast of the mausoleum square stands the Music Stage, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles. During holidays, the steps become densely crowded with visitors, which you may want to avoid.

Xiaoling Mausoleum

The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the burial site of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his empress Ma. After winding through the tomb passageway, visitors arrive at the main structure of the mausoleum complex. The journey concludes at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum's Linggong-Baoding area, beneath which lies the underground palace of Zhu Yuanzhang's tomb that remains unexcavated. The admission ticket includes access to Plum Blossom Hill, which is particularly worth visiting in winter when the plum blossoms are in full bloom.

Linggu Scenic Area

Linggu Temple sees fewer visitors compared to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum attractions. The original temple now stands in a quiet corner, while the central axis primarily features a series of structures from the National Revolutionary Army Martyrs' Cemetery. However,The Beamless Hall, the only remaining structure from the Ming Dynasty-era Linggu Temple, still stands along the central axis—don't miss this architectural marvel.This grand hall was constructed entirely of brick and stone without using a single beam or pillar, serving as the memorial chapel for the public cemetery.

Zhongshan Mountain boasts a superb environment, with trees lining the mountain paths forming a lush green canopy. Simply strolling along the shaded trails is delightful, let alone exploring its numerous attractions, including some secluded spots known only to longtime Nanjing residents. This makes Zhongshan undoubtedly one of Nanjing's most famous mountains. If time permits, staying in Nanjing for a while and hiking Zhongshan daily offers both exercise and new discoveries each day. Best of all, hiking is free as long as you avoid the ticketed attractions.