A Poetic Journey: Lunar New Year at Qixia Mountain

✅ In Nanjing, there is a saying: "Spring at Niushou Mountain, autumn at Qixia Mountain." This refers to visiting Niushou Mountain in spring and Qixia Mountain in autumn to see the red leaves. Visiting during the Lunar New Year offers a different experience. 🌿 Qixia Mountain is known as the "most beautiful mountain in Jinling" and is one of China's four best places to see maple leaves. It is also the ancestral home of the Sanron school of Buddhism and one of the four major Buddhist temples. The mountain is home to more than 80 historical sites, many of which are protected cultural relics. In recent years, the mountain's infrastructure has been improved, and some of the relics have been renovated and developed. In addition, a luxury hotel has been built near the scenic area. 🌿 Not long after entering the scenic area, you will see the famous Tang Stele, which was originally the Ming Zhengjun Stele. The stele is located outside the gate of Qixia Temple and is the largest and best-preserved Tang stele in Nanjing. The two large characters "Qixia" on the back of the stele were written by Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi. The characters are bold and majestic. The main text was written by the famous Tang calligrapher Gao Zhengchen in running script. The stele is a masterpiece of calligraphy. The stele is made of limestone from Qixia Mountain. The plum blossom patterns on the surface are fossils of crinoid stems and Chinese coral fossils that lived in shallow seas 280 million years ago. There are more than 22,000 fossils, making it a rare geological specimen known as "plum blossom stone." ✅ From Qixia Temple, head to the Sheli Pagoda and Thousand Buddha Cliff, then climb the stone steps up the mountain. Continue to Xiaoyingpan and Taixu Pavilion, and reach the summit: Fengxiang Peak. Then head to Shihuanglinjiang, Red Leaf Valley, and Tiger Mountain, and descend to Mingjing Lake. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful scenery and cultural relics, and admire the view of the Yangtze River. This forest trail has been upgraded from the original road and consists mostly of wooden walkways and stone paths. The stone paths are paved with sandstone or bluestone slabs from the mountain, making it easier to climb. Many people come here to hike. If you are not physically fit, you can take the scenic area bus.