Xuanwu Lake Park, Nanjing – Ticket, Opening Hours, Highlights, and Location

Xuanwu Gate, named after the lake, is located to the west of Xuanwu Lake. In the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908), Duan Fang, the Governor of Liangjiang, proposed holding the “Nanyang Promotion Exhibition” around Dingjia Bridge. To facilitate the visit of both domestic and foreign guests to Xuanwu Lake, he requested the construction of a new gate near the Ming City Wall, close to the Promoting Exhibition Road (now Hunan Road). The project was later taken over by Zhang Renjun, who succeeded Duan Fang as Governor. The new gate was completed in the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), and in June of the same year, the Nanyang Promotion Exhibition was successfully held. Since Zhang Renjun was from Fengrun, Hebei, in recognition of his contribution to building the gate, it was named Fengrun Gate. The opening of Fengrun Gate marked Xuanwu Lake’s official recognition as a “park” in modern history.

In July of the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), the government decided to rename “Fengrun Gate” to “Xuanwu Gate,” reasoning that “Xuanwu Lake benefits the people’s livelihood, and the name Xuanwu Gate is fitting.” In 1929, Mr. Cai Yuanpei was invited to inscribe the three characters “Xuanwu Gate.”

The Ancient Military Review Platform, located at the northern foot of Fuzhou Mountain beneath the Ming City Wall, was built in 2010. It is a two-story, open-air structure by the water, covering an area of approximately 600 square meters. In ancient times, Xuanwu Lake was a place for naval training and military reviews. The tradition of water-based military parades began during the Eastern Wu period and reached its peak during the Southern Dynasties.

The Ancient Military Review Platform was constructed based on the grandeur of historical military reviews held by emperors at Xuanwu Lake. The architectural style follows that of the Six Dynasties. From the platform, one can gaze into the distance, as if witnessing the magnificent scene of “five hundred warships and one hundred thousand soldiers” during a military review.

The Lake God Temple was originally established in the third year of the Hongwu reign (1370) under the order of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, to set up an altar to worship Tai Li, one of the seven imperial sacrifices in ancient China. Due to the establishment of the Huangce Archive, the ceremony for Tai Li was held at a different location, allowing the temple to remain in place.

In the third year of the Hongzhi reign (1490), Emperor Xiaozong of Ming ordered the land god of the Back Lake Huangce Archive to be worshipped during the spring and autumn seasons. According to local legend, the temple was originally built during the Hongwu period in memory of an elderly man with the surname Mao, and was thus also known as the “Mao Elder Temple.” Later, it was renamed the Lake God Temple.

The Lansheng Tower is located at the northern end of Liangzhou Island. It was originally built during the Six Dynasties period, and is said to have been constructed by Emperor Xiao Wu of the Southern Dynasties’ Song Dynasty, Liu Jun, for observing naval training. In the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909), the new military commander Xu Shaozhen rebuilt the tower, covering an area of 175 square meters.

This two-story building features a four-cornered, pointed roof design with glazed tiles, double eaves, and decorative bracketing, with intricate painted patterns, displaying typical characteristics of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture. The overall design is grand and elegant. In the past, this tower was a place where Xu Shaozhen invited scholars and literati for poetic gatherings and socializing. Later, it was renamed “Lansheng Tower” as visitors could enjoy panoramic views of Xuanwu Lake and Zhongshan Mountain from the top.

Ginkgo Avenue is located on Liangzhou Island in Xuanwu Lake, stretching south to the nearly 600-year-old Fang Bridge and north to the Wuyutai Pavilion, built in the early Republic of China period. To the east is the Jinling Bonsai Garden, and to the west lies the Friendship Hall. From mid-November to early December each year, over 50 tall ginkgo trees along the avenue gradually turn golden, and the fallen leaves cover the ground, creating a golden path. The avenue’s autumn scenery is picturesque, making it a popular Instagram-worthy spot in Nanjing.

The section of embankment from Taiping Gate to Heping Gate on Xuanwu Lake is known as the Ten-Mile Long Embankment. This embankment originated during the Six Dynasties period and was named after the Tang Dynasty poet Wei Zhuang’s poem “Taicheng.” In the first year of the Taixing period (318 AD), Jin Emperor Yuan Sima Rui used the rear lake as a naval training base and renamed it “North Lake.” During the Southern Dynasties, Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty constructed a dam to block the lake water to the north of the Yueyao Garden, which became known as the “North Dam,” the precursor of the Ten-Mile Long Embankment. Today, the Ten-Mile Long Embankment is a greenway and a prime location for enjoying the city’s skyline and the evening sunset.

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