Autumn Nostalgia Tour: A One-Day Trip to Ancient Huiji Temple and Pukou Railway Station

🍂 Autumn Nostalgia Tour: A One-Day Guide to Pukou Ancient Huiji Temple and the Old Railway Station

✨ Highlights of the Trip

· Millennium Ginkgo and Southern Dynasties Zen: Converse with three ancient ginkgo trees over 1,500 years old at Ancient Huiji Temple, and experience the ultimate romance and Zen of "not sweeping fallen leaves."
· Republican Era Charm and Historical Echoes: Stroll through the old Pukou Railway Station, a filming location for "Romance in the Rain" and "The Story of a Noble Family," trace the platform described in Zhu Ziqing’s "Back Shadow," and touch the pulse of Republican history.
· High Cost-Performance Deep Cultural Experience: All attractions are free, leaving your budget for authentic Pukou cuisine, allowing you to experience Nanjing’s historical depth and local life in the purest way.

📌 Basic Information

Best Travel Time: Mid to late November, when the ginkgo trees at Ancient Huiji Temple are at their most golden and brilliant.

Budget Reference (per person):

Expense Category Budget (RMB) Notes
Transportation 50-70 Mainly taxis (inter-district + cross-river), comfortable and convenient
Dining 80-100 Taste authentic old-brand and street snacks in Pukou
Total 130-170 Flexible according to preference

🧳 Detailed Itinerary

Morning: Ancient Huiji Temple · Millennium Appointment

· Departure (Recommended 8:30-9:00):
Depart from downtown Nanjing, the most recommended way is by taxi, directly navigate to "Ancient Huiji Temple." The ride takes about 40-50 minutes and costs around 50-60 RMB. This maximizes sightseeing time and makes it easier to carry photography equipment.
· Visit (Core experience 1.5-2 hours):
Ancient Huiji Temple (commonly known as "Tangquan Temple") was founded during the Southern Dynasties. Although the temple is small, it is famous for three legendary millennium-old ginkgo trees.
· Three Ancient Trees: Focus on finding the three ancient ginkgo trees named "Dripping Milk," "Supporting Heaven and Earth," and "Revived by Lightning." Their unique shapes and vigorous vitality are breathtaking.
· Best Photo Spot: Stand in front of the temple’s red walls with a ground covered in golden ginkgo leaves as the foreground, capturing the ancient trees and the upturned eaves together, fully immersing in the autumn atmosphere.
· Friendly Reminder: Please keep quiet and respect the peaceful Buddhist environment.

Noon: Authentic Pukou · Firewood Wontons

· Food Experience:
Take a taxi from Ancient Huiji Temple (about 15 minutes) to Tangquan Street or directly to the area near Pukou Railway Station. Highly recommend trying a stall like Daxi Wontons (or other local-recommended firewood wonton stalls) that retains the childhood flavor. Watching the owner cook wontons on a traditional firewood stove, full of local life atmosphere, is an indispensable experience of this trip.

Afternoon: Old Pukou Station · Time Travel

· Transfer and Visit (Core experience 2-2.5 hours):
After lunch, take a taxi to the "Pukou Railway Station Historical Style Area."
This is the only well-preserved Republican-era railway station in China, known as "China’s Most Artistic Railway Station."
· Station Building and Platform: Look up at this British-style building in front of the old station site and imagine its past prosperity. If possible (without disturbing work), visit the famous platform to relive scenes from Zhu Ziqing’s "Back Shadow" and classic films.
· British-Style Rain Corridor: The long rain corridor outside the station is an excellent photo spot, with interlaced light and shadow and a strong sense of depth.
· Surrounding Historical Buildings: Don’t forget to stroll around the nearby streets and alleys. The old buildings and ticket offices on Jinpu Road still retain the charm of old times.
· Train Theme Park & Yangtze Riverbank: You can walk to the nearby train theme park to see old trains up close and enjoy views of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge and river scenery.

Evening: Lights On · Return Full of Memories

· Return:
End the day’s journey at sunset or when the city lights come on. You can take Metro Line S8 from Pukou, transfer to Line 3 to cross the river back to downtown, experiencing the feeling of crossing the Yangtze River; or take a taxi directly and reminisce about the day’s journey between ancient and modern on the way back.

🍜 Food Recommendations (Pukou Specialties)

Food Recommendation Experience Features
Firewood Wontons Daxi Wontons and other street stalls Thin skin, tender filling, delicious broth, full of local life flavor
Qiaobei Beef Noodles Pukou old-brand noodle shop Rich broth, tender beef, a local favorite
Yangtze River Fresh Fish Yangtze River fishing village Try if in a group, savor seasonal fresh flavors from the Yangtze

💡 Practical Tips

1. Dressing Suggestions:
· Clothing: Autumn has large temperature differences; it is recommended to wear beige, white, camel, or brown tones, which match well with ginkgo and vintage scenes.
· Shoes: Must be comfortable! Lots of walking all day.
2. Photography Tips:
· Ancient Huiji Temple: Be sure to capture wide shots of the ground covered with ginkgo leaves and details of the ancient tree branches.
· Old Railway Station: Use the rain corridor’s depth for composition, try black-and-white filters on the platform to instantly enhance the artistic feel.
3. Notes:
· Some areas of Pukou Railway Station may be closed due to renovation or management reasons; please stay calm, the surroundings also offer great photo opportunities.
· Protect historical buildings; do not carve or graffiti.

This guide combines natural autumn colors with cultural history, hoping to help you have a poetic and memorable autumn trip. Wish you a pleasant journey!