Hidden Gem Near Nanjing! A 600-Year-Old Wonder That Will Amaze You

Check-in Date: Mar 14, 2025

**Scenic Spot Overview**
**Address**: Honglan Town, Lishui District, Nanjing
**Tickets**: CNY 27 (Super affordable!)
**Opening Hours**: 8:30am–5:00pm
**Recommended Visit Duration**: 3–4 hrs
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### 🌿 **Must-See Highlights**
1️⃣ **The "Natural Bridge" Wonder**
✨ During the early Ming Dynasty, while constructing the Rouge River, artisans ingeniously preserved a giant rock as a bridge, spanning the river and creating a breathtaking spectacle!
📸 **Photo Tips**:
- Shoot upwards from under the bridge: Use a wide-angle lens to capture the tension between the bridge and the sky!
- Reflections from the river: On a sunny day, the water surface is like a mirror, and the symmetrical reflection of the bridge is stunning!

2️⃣ **Rouge River Boat Trip**
🚤 Take a painted boat trip through the gorge, with red cliffs on both sides and winding clear water, as if entering a "mini Three Gorges of the Yangtze River"!
🌿 **Seasonal Highlights**:
- Spring: Cherry blossoms on both banks are pink and white like clouds, with falling petals.
- Autumn: The forests are ablaze with color, a world of oil paintings in red and yellow.

3️⃣ **Suspension Bridge Viewing Platform**
🌉 The red suspension bridge offers the best vantage point to overlook the entire Natural Bridge!
💡 **Secret Tip**: At dusk, the setting sun gilds the Rouge River, creating a romantic atmosphere!

4️⃣ **Aegean Sea Theme Park**
💐 Rainbow walkways, windmill lawns, rose mazes… Unleash your inner child! Perfect for couples or friends for a picnic～
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### 🍃 **Historical and Cultural Stories**
- To open up the Grand Canal, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty ordered Li Xin to supervise the construction of the Rouge River, employing hundreds of thousands of laborers to carve the mountain into a river.
- Legend has it that the rocks were stained red with blood during construction, hence the name "Rouge River." The Natural Bridge is also known as the "First Bridge of Jiangnan."

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### 🚗 **Transportation Guide**
✅ **Self-driving**: Approx. 1 hr from downtown Nanjing. Navigate to "Tianshengqiao Scenic Area." Parking lot: CNY 10/visit.
✅ **Public Transportation**: Take Subway Line S7 to Lishui Station, then transfer to Bus No. You 3/23.
### 📝 **Travel Tips**
✔️ Wear comfortable shoes! Some sections require walking and climbing.
✔️ There are cafes and light meals available in the scenic area, but bringing your own snacks is recommended.
✔️ The "Natural Bridge Music Festival" takes place every year from March to April, featuring live music on the grass.
**"A stone beam stretches across, a work of nature's art, the Rouge River flows red for eternity."**
This underrated hidden gem of the Six Dynasties ancient capital boasts both historical significance and the healing power of nature. It's the perfect weekend escape from the city! 🌈