Beigu Hill – Ticket, Opening Hours, Location, and highlights

Beigu Hill (北固山), one of the three famous scenic spots in Zhenjiang, stands at an elevation of 55.2 meters, commanding a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Overlooking the mighty Yangtze River, the hill is characterized by its rugged terrain and imposing stone cliffs, earning it the name “Beigushan” which translates to “Northern Solid Hill.”

The hill is divided into three main parts: the Front Peak, Middle Peak, and Rear Peak, with the Rear Peak being the focal point and offering the most picturesque scenery. The Front Peak, once the site of an ancient palace from the Eastern Wu period, has been transformed into the Zhenjiang Martyrs Cemetery. The Middle Peak, formerly hosting a meteorological tower, has been repurposed as a National Painting Gallery. The Rear Peak, the primary attraction, overlooks the Yangtze River on the north side, surrounded by cliffs on three sides, creating a steep and challenging landscape. The entire hill is adorned with lush greenery, and numerous historical and cultural landmarks are scattered across its slopes.

Notably, Beigushan Hill is closely associated with the tales from the classic Chinese novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” Among its attractions, Ganlu Temple stands out as a prominent site where, according to the novel, Liu Bei met and courted Sun Shangxiang. Throughout history, visitors have flocked to Beigushan Hill to trace the footsteps of the legendary heroes from the Three Kingdoms period.

Table of Contents

• Basic Information
• Location and Transportation
• Map of Beigu Hill
• Highlights of Beigu Hill
  • Iron Pagoda
  • Poetry Monument of Abe no Nakamaro
  • Ganlu Temple
• Vlog about Beihu Hill
• Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
• Attractions near Beigushan hill

Basic Information

Location and Transportation

Beigu Hill is located in the northern part of Zhenjiang, situated on the southern bank of the Yangtze River. The precise address is 3 Dongwu Road, Jingkou District, Zhenjiang City.

To get there, tourists can take bus 4, 6, 8, 25, 49, 83, 112, 130, 133, 135, or 204 and get off at Ganlu Temple Stop (甘露寺站).

Map of Beigu Hill

Highlights of Beigu Hill

Iron Pagoda

One of the landmarks in Beigushan Hill is the Iron Pagoda, located southeast of the Rear Peak beside the Qinghui Pavilion. Also known as the “Weigong Pagoda,” it stands as a crucial cultural relic, being one of only six surviving iron pagodas in China and the sole one within the Jiangsu province.

Constructed in the first year of the Tang Dynasty’s Dingli era (825 AD), the Iron Pagoda was commissioned by Li Deyu, the Tang governor of Runzhou, in honor of the posthumous blessings of Emperor Muzong. Despite facing multiple reconstructions over the years, the current pagoda stands as a four-tiered structure, with the first two tiers dating back to the Song Dynasty and the upper two tiers cast during the Ming Dynasty. The pagoda’s base, known as the Lotus Pedestal, and its body feature intricate designs such as cloud and water patterns, lotus petals with paired birds, playful dragons with pearls, and Buddhist images, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and lifelike realism.

Poetry Monument of Abe no Nakamaro

Adjacent to the Iron Pagoda, towards the west, stands the Poetry Monument of Abe no Nakamaro, inscribed with the verses of the Japanese envoy Abe no Nakamaro (Chinese name Chao Heng). Born in 698 AD and passing away in 770 AD, Nakamaro was a bright and studious scholar selected as a student envoy to Tang China in 717 AD. He embarked on a journey from Osaka with the ninth Japanese diplomatic mission led by Tajima no Kami. Nakamaro studied at the Imperial University in Chang’an, excelling and forming deep friendships with renowned poets like Wang Wei and Li Bai. In 753 AD, as part of a diplomatic mission, Nakamaro sailed with Jianzhen, a prominent Buddhist monk, on a journey eastward. While docked along the Yangtze River, under the brilliant moonlight, Nakamaro, overwhelmed by thoughts of his hometown after 36 years, composed the famous poem “Looking at the Moon, Thinking of Home.”

Ganlu Temple

At the summit of the North Peak of Beigushan Hill, visitors encounter Ganlu Temple, which traces its origins back to the Ganlu era of the Eastern Wu period (265-266 AD). The temple’s name, Ganlu, was personally inscribed by the legendary Zhang Fei. To immortalize the historical significance of the Three Kingdoms period and the alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan, Zhang Fei brought relics and the historical footprint of the Liu-Sun alliance to the mountain. In its heyday during the Song Dynasty, Ganlu Temple housed over 500 monks, and its glory continued into the Ming and Qing Dynasties, boasting more than 200 structures, including halls and monk residences. Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong even built palaces within the temple grounds during their reigns.

Vlog about Beihu Hill

Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews

Small Size and Quick Ascent: Beigu Hill is relatively small, and it takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the summit. The summit features a pavilion where visitors can climb to enjoy panoramic views in different directions.

Visit “甘露书场” Tea House: Before reaching Jijiang Pavilion, there’s a tea house called “甘露书场” (Ganlu Shuchang). The corridor outside the tea house displays many old photographs. It’s advertised as a place where visitors can listen to traditional storytelling performances for free, featuring inheritors of Yangzhou storytelling arts. There are three sessions available on Saturday and Sunday after 2 pm.

Try Local Specialty: Zhenjiang Guogai Noodles: In the vicinity, you can find Zhenjiang Guogai Noodles, a local specialty. Numerous street vendors offer this dish, and it’s suggested to give it a try. The taste is considered quite good by some visitors.

Attractions near Beigushan hill

Xijin Ferry – a cluster of cultural relics and historic sites

Jinshan Hill Scenic Area – A place where iconic tales happen

Jiaoshan Park – an island in Yangtze river

Zhenjiang Museum – House to over 30,000 artifacts