Xuanwu Lake



The Xuanwu Lake Park is situated at outside of the Xuanwu Gate, the ancient Nanjing City. With a
circumference of 15 kilometers, the Xuanwu Lake sheltered by hills on three sides and surrounded by
the city on another side. People called it "Sangbo" (Mulberry Lake) in the ancient times.

According to the legend, in the Southern Dynasty a black dragon was seen in the lake. Chinese Taoists
believed that the black dragon was a water god appeared appearing as the uniform of a turtle and snake,
called Xuanwu. Hence the lake was called Xuanwu Lake.

The Xuanwu Lake Park has picturesque scenery. Some little islets in the lake such as Liangzhou (Liang
Islet), Lingzhou (Water Chestnut Islet), Cuizhou (Green Islet), Yingzhou (Cherry Islet) are link with the
bank by bridges, each islet is distinctive.

Walking along the lake, you can see different scenes, which cannot be taken in all at once. Seen from the lake, the ten-mile-long causeway seems
like a beautiful green screen, in which you can see the partly hidden and partly visible bridge. Like a green chain, the causeway links the
Zhongshan (Bell Mountain) and Cuizhou (Green Islet) and presents innumerable picturesque scenes.

Close to the city center and featuring 368 hectares of water and 104 hectares of land, Xuanwu Lake Park is a favorite getaway for locals.  Well
before the sunrise and even after sunset, the park is bustling with visitors. Some come to walk, jog, or fly kites, others to practice Tai Chi, and many
more just want to enjoy the scenery.

To the east of Xuanwu Lake is Purple Mountain, to the north is Nanjing Train Station, and to the west
and south Nanjing’s skyscrapers stretch high above the City Wall that was built during the Ming
Dynasty.  Paved paths circle the entire perimeter of the lake and several forested islands within the lake
that are linked by causeways.

The best time to visit Xuanwu Lake Park is during May and June.  By visiting the park in late Spring,
Nanjing city will not have the opportunity to show you why it is famed as one of the three furnaces of
China.