Jinling Secret Realm Double Peak Wonder

🌄 Niushou Mountain Travel Guide: The Buddhist Kingdom Secret Realm of Jinling, Check in the "Double Peak Wonder" and the Sacred Underground Palace 🌄
📍 City Coordinates
Niushou Mountain in Nanjing is named for its east and west peaks resembling ox horns, also known as "Tianque Mountain." It is a Buddhist holy site, a Ming Dynasty cultural relic, and a popular spot for photos! "One Niushou Mountain, half the history of Jinling," perfect for those who love culture, photography, and Zen travel.

🌟 Must-Visit Highlights

Buddha Summit Palace (World-Class Buddhist Architecture)

📸 Visual Impact: Giant "Lotus Dome" + European-style corridor, perfect for shooting "pretending to be in Europe" masterpieces in no time!
🕌 Underground Palace Secret Realm: Thousand Buddha Hall, Relic Treasury Palace (housing the skull relic of Shakyamuni Buddha), magnificent and resplendent like an "underground palace."
💡 Tip: Shoe covers are required to enter the underground palace, photography is prohibited, quietly feel the awe!

Buddha Summit Pagoda (Tang Dynasty Style)

🏯 Climb the pagoda for a panoramic view: The 8-story pagoda top offers a 360° view of Niushou Mountain and a distant view of Nanjing city.

Zen Realm Panorama

🧘 Zen Experience: Giant Reclining Buddha, Bodhi Tree light and shadow show (recommended at 10 AM / 2 PM).

Hidden Dragon Lake

🌿 Nature Spot: Lakeside boardwalk, black swan flock, ideal for walking and picnics.

Zheng He’s Tomb and Hongjue Temple Pagoda (For Culture Enthusiasts)

🏛️ Ming Dynasty Relics: Zheng He’s Tomb is quiet and solemn, Hongjue Temple Pagoda is one of Nanjing’s oldest brick pagodas.

🚶‍♂️ Recommended Routes
Half-Day Highlights Tour (for time-limited visitors)
East Gate Entrance → Scenic Bus to Buddha Summit Palace → Buddha Summit Pagoda → Zen Realm Panorama → Hidden Dragon Lake → Return.
Full-Day Deep Tour
East Gate → Buddha Summit Temple (Ming Dynasty reconstruction) → Buddha Summit Palace + Underground Palace → Buddha Summit Pagoda → Zheng He’s Tomb → Peach Blossom Creek (spring flower viewing) → Exit West Gate.

📸 Photo Spot Guide

Buddha Summit Palace Corridor: Symmetrical composition + wide-angle lens, best shot in soft light at early morning or evening.
Top Floor of Buddha Summit Pagoda: Use telephoto lens to capture the overlapping shadows of Buddha Summit Palace and mountains.
Hidden Dragon Lake Boardwalk: Lake reflections of Buddha Summit Pagoda, perfect for vintage-style portraits.

🍜 Food Stops

🍵 Buddha Summit Vegetarian Cuisine: Buddha Summit Palace vegetarian noodle shop (recommended "Arhat Noodles"), light but flavorful.
☕ Popular Coffee: "One Leaf One Bodhi" Zen coffee shop inside the scenic area, cup sleeves printed with "Niushou Mountain" check-in words.
🥢 Recommended at the foot of the mountain: Dongshan Old Goose on Guli Street (Nanjing specialty dish).

🚗 Transportation Guide

🚇 Metro: Line S1 to "Hohai University · Focheng West Road Station," transfer to bus 754 / taxi (about 15 RMB) to East Gate.
🚌 Inside Scenic Area: Recommended to buy a 20 RMB unlimited sightseeing bus ticket (walking is tiring, many slopes).
🅿️ Self-Driving: Parking lots available at East/West Gates, fee about ¥5/hour.

💡 Practical Tips

🎫 Tickets: Adult 98 RMB (88 RMB if purchased online 1 day in advance), half price for students.
⏰ Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Buddha Summit Palace stops admission at 4:30 PM).
👗 Dress Code: Solid color long dresses (black/white are most photogenic) recommended for Buddha Summit Palace; avoid short skirts in the underground palace.
🌸 Seasons:

Spring (March-April): Cherry blossoms, Peach Blossom Creek are stunning;
Autumn (October-November): Colorful foliage, stronger Zen atmosphere.

✨ Niushou Mountain, a visual and spiritual journey through ancient and modern times, waiting for you to explore!