The Three Hills of Zhenjiang

Overview

About

The Three Hills scenic area at Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, comprises Jinshan, Jiaoshan and Beigushan standing along the Yangtze.

Jinshan is famed for its beauty: the Jiangtian Monastery climbs the hill with halls and terraces tier on tier, so that from afar one sees the temple and not the hill, “Jinshan Temple wraps the hill”. The folk tale of the White Snake flooding Jinshan Temple is set here. Zhenjiang has renovated the area, adding the Furong Tower, Pagoda Shadow Lake, Hundred Flowers Isle and Mirror Sky Garden, where springs, lake, isle, garden and temple set each other off.

Jiaoshan stands in the river, a natural and tranquil place; its forest of steles and cliff inscriptions, a national protected site, make it the “mountain of calligraphy”, the Heming inscription famous at home and abroad. Dinghui Temple is one of the famous old monasteries of the south; since the temple buildings are hidden deep in the woods, “Jiaoshan the hill wraps the temple”.

Beigushan is famed for its steepness and for the stories of the Three Kingdoms; its main peak overlooks the river with Ganlu Temple on the summit, “the temple crowns the hill”. Its pavilions, rocks and paths all recall the legends of the alliance of Sun and Liu, drawing visitors in search of Three Kingdoms sites.

It is in the fifth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2004.

Travel tips

Getting there: the three hills are in Zhenjiang, reached by bus or taxi from Zhenjiang station or Zhenjiang South station. High-speed trains run from Nanjing and Shanghai, and from Nanjing it takes about half an hour.

Jinshan: on the river bank to the north-west of the city, and now joined to the mainland. A path climbs to the Cishou Pagoda, and the Jiangtian Temple is built up the slope, with halls in tiers.

Jiaoshan: an island in the Yangtze, reached by ferry. The island has Dinghui Temple and a forest of steles. The cliff inscription Yi He Ming, the Inscription on the Burial of a Crane, is a famous piece in the history of calligraphy.

Beigushan: in the north-east of the city beside the Yangtze, with Ganlu Temple on the summit, linked to the legend of the marriage alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms period. The hill gives views over the river and the bridge.

Time: allow about half a day for each hill. Visiting two in a day is relaxed.

Season: spring and autumn are pleasant with the river breeze. Summer is hot, so climb early. The riverside is windy in winter.

Where to stay: central Zhenjiang is the easiest, and lets you also visit the old Xijindu street and the Nanshan area.

Nearby: Zhenjiang is close to Nanjing, Yangzhou and Changzhou and can be combined with them.

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