Four Temples of Jinling, All Year Round (Part 1)

Among the major cities in modern China, only Beijing and Nanjing have retained the character "京" (jing) in their names. As the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties and the "City of Kings," Nanjing is home to many precious historical relics, from the Yeshan Mountain of King Fuchai of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in the early Republic of China. Each relic is steeped in history. Among these ancient sites, four temples stand out for their unique beauty. Jiming Temple: Cherry Blossom Season When Nanjing locals talk about Jiming Temple, they often mention the Tang poem "480 Temples of the Southern Dynasties." Jiming Temple has indeed witnessed the rise and fall of the Southern Dynasties, and the Rouge Well is said to be where the last emperor of the Chen Dynasty and his concubine hid. This ancient temple, which has stood for over a thousand years, still attracts many worshippers, especially on the days commemorating Guanyin's enlightenment and ordination. However, from March to April, there are more tourists than worshippers at Jiming Temple. During the short cherry blossom season from late March to early April, the cherry blossom avenue from Jiming Temple to Heping Gate is crowded with locals and tourists, regardless of the weather. The scene is even more spectacular than the plum blossom viewing at Plum Blossom Hill. Linggu Temple: Firefly Dance This temple, also built during the Southern Dynasties, has become the Linggu Temple Scenic Area over time. The temple houses the relics of Master Xuanzang, while the scenic area is home to the cemetery of soldiers who died in the Northern Expedition. The Wuliang Hall has the names of over 30,000 soldiers who died in the Northern Expedition inscribed on its walls, and the scenic area also contains the tombs of Deng Yanda, Tan Yankai, and Dai Li. Summer at Linggu Temple belongs to the insects. Every evening, the forest is filled with the magical glow of fireflies, making the midsummer night at Linggu Temple one of the most mysterious sights in Nanjing. The best place to see fireflies at Linggu Temple is around Zhigong Hall and Baogong Pagoda, with the most spectacular display around 8 pm. To protect these insects, vehicles are prohibited from entering the scenic area at night in summer.