Impressions of Summer in Nanjing

Nanjing in summer is truly hot, living up to its reputation as one of the 'furnaces' of China. Perhaps it is precisely because of the scorching sun that there is a sky full of vibrant and ever-changing colors, and a passionate crowd of tourists, giving the ancient capital of Nanjing a modern vibe! There are many attractions within Nanjing, ranging from natural landscapes to cultural relics, each step revealing a different scene that tells the story of Nanjing! Nanjing Station, facing Xuanwu Lake and backed by Xiaohong Mountain, is the only train station in China that is both lakeside and mountain-adjacent, and is known as 'China's most beautiful train station'. It was first built in the 31st year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1905), originally located in the Xiaguan area of Nanjing; it was moved to its current location in September 1968. The station building adopts a mast stay cable suspension structure, with 18 masts supporting the transverse steel beams, resembling a giant sailboat with masts erected and sails full, moored on the shore of Xuanwu Lake. The large area, wide-span stay cable lightweight steel roof system, modern hanging structure technology, transparent point-supported glass curtain wall, automatic fire-fighting water cannons, and long-distance air supply with large temperature difference design layered air conditioning system all reflect the combination of modern technology and new architecture, with both Jiangnan cultural characteristics and a modern atmosphere. The Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Belt is located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, with the Confucius Temple as the core, the Ten-Mile Qinhuai as the axis, and the Ming City Wall as the link, connecting numerous national key cultural relics protection units, provincial and municipal cultural relics protection units. It embodies Confucian thought and imperial examination culture, folk culture, etc., integrating tourism, gourmet shopping, science education, and festival culture, making it a gathering place for Nanjing's historical and cultural heritage, as well as a famous open national 5A-level tourist attraction in China. The Qinhuai River is the cradle of Nanjing's ancient civilization, the mother river of Nanjing, and historically very famous. It has been known as the 'district of smoke and moon of the Six Dynasties, and the gathering place of gold and powder', as well as the prosperous place of ten dynasties, 'clothing and cultural relics, most prosperous in Jiangnan; literary talent and elegance, top in the country', and is called 'China's number one historical and cultural famous river'. The Confucius Temple is one of the four major Confucian temples in China, a hub of ancient Jiangnan culture and a gathering place of historical and cultural figures in Jinling. It was not only the cultural and educational center of Nanjing during the Ming and Qing dynasties but also the crown of cultural and educational architectural complexes in the southeastern provinces, and it is the largest traditional ancient market in China. The snacks of the Confucius Temple are ranked first among the four major snacks in China. The Confucius Temple Lantern Festival, held annually from the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival, is on the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists and is also the most famous lantern festival in China, attracting countless friends to enjoy the lanterns and celebrate the festival together, with a strong local character and cultural atmosphere. Xuanwu Lake, also known as Hou Lake or North Lake, is bordered by Zijin Mountain to the east, the Ming City Wall to the west, Nanjing Station to the north, and Fuzhou Mountain to the south. It is a shallow lake and part of the ancient Qinhuai River channel left by the Yangtze River. Xuanwu Lake is the 'heart' of Nanjing's urban water system, belonging to the Jinchuan River system, with the lake water mainly supplied by rainwater from the northern foothills of Zhongshan (Zijin Mountain). Xuanwu Lake is connected to the Yangtze River through the Jinchuan River, Pearl River, and Qinhuai River, carrying out comprehensive functions such as urban flood control and drainage, ecological landscape, public leisure, sightseeing tourism, and ecological water replenishment for urban rivers. Xuanwu Lake is one of the three famous lakes in Jiangnan, and the area around the ancient Xuanwu Lake was the most suitable space for human habitation in Nanjing at that time, with ancient cultural sites such as Beiyinyangying, Suojin Village, and Anhuai Village. Xuanwu Lake was also the royal garden lake of the Six Dynasties and the training ground for the navy, and during the Ming Dynasty, it was the location of the national archive where the Yellow Register was kept. Therefore, Xuanwu Lake has the reputation of being the largest urban park in the Jiangnan region, the largest royal garden lake in China, the only remaining royal garden in Jiangnan, and is known as the 'Pearl of Jinling'. The Stone City Gate (also known as the Dry West Gate or Han West Gate), opened during the Ming Dynasty, is located not far south of the Hanzhong Gate. After the Hanzhong Gate was demolished, the place name continued to be used. The Stone City Gate is a place name that no longer exists, but the city gate is still there. Because Hanzhong Gate and Stone City Gate are very close to each other, most people confuse the two, even thinking they are the same gate. Hanzhong Gate is a city gate opened during the Republic of China, while Stone City Gate (also known as Dry West Gate or Han West Gate) is one of the thirteen city gates of Ming Nanjing. The Stone City Gate was originally built during the Southern Tang Dynasty and is the oldest existing city gate in Nanjing. The area has a strong historical and cultural atmosphere and is a microcosm of the rich cultural accumulation of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, Nanjing. The former Hanzhong Gate itself was in decline and its former grandeur as a fortress was hard to see.