Nanjing's top attraction! Qixia Mountain dominates social media in spring

🌈Attraction highlights: Qixia Mountain, a thousand-year-old secret realm of Jinling, where "autumn leaves intoxicate"🍁⛰️! One of the four best maple viewing spots in China, it integrates Buddhist culture, geological wonders, and royal gardens! The ancient Southern Dynasty temple, Qixia Temple, has been a place of worship for 1,500 years. The "Eastern Feitian" grottoes at Thousand Buddha Cliff amaze the world✨, and there are also the "Ten Scenic Spots of Qixia" inscribed by Emperor Qianlong. Beautiful in all seasons—enjoy peach and cherry blossoms in spring🌸 (March-April), explore green pools and waterfalls in summer💦 (June-August), admire the crimson mountains in autumn🔥 (October-December), and experience the snowy charm of ancient temples in winter❄️ (December-February). ▪️ "Buddhist Holy Land": Qixia Temple is the ancestral home of the Three Treatises School, and the reliefs on the Sarira Stupa are considered the pinnacle of Sui Dynasty stone carving. ▪️ "Geological Wonders": The karst landforms such as Dielang Rock, Tiankai Rock, and Qingfeng Sword are masterpieces of nature. ▪️ "Royal Mark": Emperor Qianlong visited six times and stayed five times, and the ruins of the Imperial Garden still retain the imperial style. 📅Tour routes: 🔸Half-day highlights (autumn maples + ancient temple): North Gate → Rainbow Mirror Lake (perfect for capturing reflections of red maples📸) → Qixia Temple (worship + vegetarian meal) → Thousand Buddha Cliff (explore the "Eastern Feitian" murals🎨) → Red Leaf Valley (immersive maple forest experience🍁) → Emperor Qin's River Viewing Spot (enjoy the sunset over the Yangtze River🌅) 🔸One-day in-depth tour: Morning: Mirror Lake → Qixia Temple → Sarira Stupa → Thousand Buddha Cliff → Lu Yu Tea House (tea tasting and mountain views🍵) Afternoon: Red Leaf Valley → Maple Forest Lake (Hanfu photos with reflections🎎) → Taixu Pavilion (sea of clouds photography spot☁️) → Peach Blossom Valley (spring cherry blossom route🌸) 🌿Seasonal highlights: March: Peach Blossom Valley "Ten Miles of Pink Snow," a holy place for Hanfu photography. November: Red Leaf Valley to Maple Forest Lake "Intertwined red, orange, yellow, and green". 🚗Driving information: ⚠️Navigation📍"Qixia Mountain Scenic Area Parking Lot No. 3" or "Qixia Temple East Parking Lot"🅿️ ▫️Parking fee: Peak season (October-December) 30 yuan/hour, off-season 15 yuan/hour ❗Tips for avoiding traffic jams: During the Red Maple Festival weekends, be sure to arrive before 7:30 am, or take Subway Line 2 to Xuezelu Station and transfer to Bus No. 138🚌 ⏰Electric cars can be rented in the scenic area (20 yuan/section). Walking is recommended to experience the mountain atmosphere🚶 ⛱️Must-see attractions: 1️⃣ Qixia Temple: A thousand-year-old temple with morning bells and evening drums🔔, the ginkgo trees and red walls of the Mahavira Hall create a limited-time autumn scene. 2️⃣ Thousand Buddha Cliff: Southern Dynasty grottoes + "Eastern Feitian" murals, an artistic treasure 300 years earlier than the Dunhuang Feitian. 3️⃣ Red Leaf Valley: A 100,000㎡ secret maple forest, a visual feast of "burning camps" from a drone's perspective🔥 4️⃣ Maple Forest Lake: The pavilion in the center of the lake reflects the red maples. Wear Hanfu and stand on the Nine-Bend Bridge to instantly become a scene from "The Story of Minglan"🎎 5️⃣ Emperor Qin's River Viewing Spot: Climb high and overlook the Yangtze River and Nanjing City, and feel the dominance of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour🌊 🏨Accommodation guide: 🔸 Zen style: Qixia Mountain Zen Inn (in the scenic area): Wake up to the view of ancient pagodas, including morning chanting experience + vegetarian meal package, 600 yuan+/night🛏️ Jingyuan Suju (5-minute walk): Fruit-themed homestay, apple feast + picking experience, 200 yuan/person🍎 🔸 Budget-friendly options: Qingzhiwu Homestay Cluster (along the subway line): Loft duplex with kitchen, 80-150 yuan/person, suitable for family trips👨👩👧 Qixia Mountain International Youth Hostel: A gathering place for backpackers, where you can chat about maple viewing strategies at night, 50 yuan/night for a bed🎒 💗Other tips: ✅ Tickets: General admission 48 yuan/person, senior tickets 25 yuan/person, free entry before 7:00 am‼️ 🚌 Transportation: Take Subway Line 2 to Xuezelu Station and transfer to Bus No. 138, or take Subway Line 4 to Jubao Hill Station and transfer to Bus No. 206. 📸 Photography: Hanfu/plain long skirts! Must-take photos: reflections in Maple Forest Lake, framed compositions at Thousand Buddha Cliff, red walls and ginkgo trees at Qixia Temple. Best lighting: 7:00-9:00 am (morning mist and maple shadows), 3:00-5:00 pm (sunset and golden leaves) 🍜 Food: Must-try Qixia vegetarian "vegetarian roast goose"🥢, sugar taro seedlings by Mirror Lake🍡, and rain flower tea at Lu Yu Tea House🍵 ⚠️ Things to avoid: 1. Be cautious when buying "wild honey" at the foot of the mountain. Look for regular shops in the scenic area. 2. Avoid driving during the Red Maple Festival. The queue for the shuttle bus can exceed 1 hour. 3. Watch out for slippery surfaces on rainy days! Be careful on stone steps such as Qingfeng Sword and Tiankai Rock.