Approximately three hundred kilometers up the Yangtze River from Shanghai is Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province. It is the second largest city in Eastern China. Nanjing served as the nation’s capital through the early part of the Ming dynasty and again in more recent times during the twentieth century. The city today, is one that is forging ahead as an industrial hub, however there is much history, culture and art that would interest leisure tourists to Nanjing. Hotel properties range from top tier luxury resorts to budget options for the economical traveller.
Among the many attractions around Nanjing is the Purple Mountain. It is located about a half hour’s drive from Baijia Lake, around which many of the region’s best hotels can be found, including Citadines Baijia Lake Nanjing. The Purple Mountain is a sacred location that has much significance in Chinese history. It is the final resting place of emperors and outstanding heroes that hailed from over ten dynasties. The mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Republic of China is located here; as is the mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty on Meihuashan Mountain, to the west. The Purple Mountain Observatory can also be found nearby on Tianbao Mountain. Much of China’s modern astronomical study is carried out here. There is also a strong belief that this is where you must visit if you want to wish upon a shooting star and have your wish come true. A number of famous cultural relics also dot Purple Mountain and the surrounding peaks.
The two best times to visit the Purple Mountain are during spring and autumn. Plum blossoms on Meihuashan Mountain are in full bloom in spring, while the red leaves on Qixia Mountain create a fiery glow in autumn.