Baohua Mountain

Baohua Mountain

Baohua Mountain is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

On the southern bank of the Yangtze River and to the east of Jinling lies a renowned Buddhist sacred site — Baohua Mountain. With its undulating peaks resembling a lotus flower in full bloom and its main peak rising 437.2 meters above sea level like the flower’s stamen, it stands tall amidst the surrounding mountains. Originally named Huashan (Flower Mountain), it earned its name from the golden-yellow flowers that blanketed the slopes in midsummer. Since the ancient characters for “flower” (花) and “magnificent” (华) were interchangeable, it was also called Huashan (华). During the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, the eminent monk Baozhi (from Jurong) spent his later years here, building a thatched hut on the mountain, preaching, and spreading Buddhist teachings, which greatly enhanced the mountain’s fame. After Baozhi’s passing, the mountain was renamed Baohua Mountain in his honor as the founding patriarch.

The zonal vegetation of Baohua Mountain is well-preserved, with 529 species of vascular plants belonging to 352 genera and 124 families. Among them, the Baohua magnolia is a unique tree species dating back 3 million years to the Cenozoic era. There are also wild varieties such as phyllostachys, water bamboo, bitter bamboo, and short-spiked bamboo, collectively referred to as the “bamboo sea.” The area boasts abundant wildlife, including over 20 species of mammals such as jackals, wolves, river deer, and foxes, as well as nearly 100 species of birds such as hill mynas, myna birds, and egrets, all of which hold significant ornamental and research value. In 1984, Jiangsu Province established a nature reserve here, which was later designated as a national forest park.

Baohua Mountain National Forest Park is located on the golden tourism route of East China. It forms an integrated network with nearby attractions within a 30-kilometer radius, including Nanjing’s Qingliang Temple, Qixia Temple, Jinshan Jiangtian Temple, and Jiaoshan Dinghui Temple. It lies 23 kilometers west of downtown Nanjing and 30 kilometers east of Zhenjiang City, with National Highway 312 running through it. To further develop the tourism resources of Baohua Mountain, the Baohua Mountain Tourism Development Company was established, investing 2 billion yuan to plan and develop over 40 tourism projects, including the Longchang Temple Scenic Area, International Eco-Community, Flora and Fauna Observation Area, and Resort Scenic Area. These efforts have transformed Baohua Mountain into a national forest park that features forest landscapes as its core, blending natural and cultural attractions. Relying on its famous mountains and ancient temples, it serves as a comprehensive destination integrating nature conservation, forest tourism, summer retreats, health and wellness, leisure entertainment, and science education.

Address: Baohua Town, Jurong City

Type: Forested Mountain

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 day

Phone: 4001588815; 025-69978888

Official Website: http://www.jrbaohua.com/index.html

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00