Jiangyin Fortress National Forest Park

Jiangyin Fortress National Forest Park

Jiangyin Fortress National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Riverside Fortress, also known as Jiangyin Fortress National Forest Park, is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park. It is situated on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, centered around Huangshan Mountain (not the Huangshan Scenic Area in Huangshan City), which has an elevation of 91.7 meters. The park also encompasses Huangshan Lake Park and E'bizui Park to the west, and a golf course to the north that was developed from the riverbank mudflats. From the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republican era, this area was a strategically vital military fortress with perilous terrain. Cannon emplacements and artillery pieces are scattered across the mountains and foothills, making it a great destination for military enthusiasts. As a national forest park—albeit a compact one—it features dense vegetation and a pleasant environment, offering opportunities for hiking, viewing the Yangtze River, and seeing the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge.

If you’re not keen on hiking, you can simply enjoy the free Huangshan Lake Park at the foot of the mountain. The park features an artificial beach along the lakeshore. To climb Huangshan, most people start from the parking lot on the east side of Huangshan Lake Park. Hiking up to the iconic Wangjiang Tower will bring you to the central part of the mountain. Near Wangjiang Tower, you’ll find the ruins of the Huangshan Fort, which mainly consist of military relics from the Republican era, including some cannons. The original front command post of the Republican-era fortress fortifications has been later restored.

Another place to view military artifacts is the Jiangyin Military Culture Museum located at the western foot of Huangshan. Its walls and gate are designed to resemble a city wall and gate tower, giving it the appearance of a military fortress. At the entrance, there is a boat used during the Crossing-the-Yangtze Campaign. Upon entering the gate, you first walk through a military tunnel lined with photos, then proceed into the museum building. Inside, you can learn about Jiangyin’s military history and see various ancient weapons and other cultural relics. The square between the museum and the gate displays many cannons from different periods.

Although Huangshan offers a high vantage point and the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge spans overhead, the dense forest blocks the view, making it not the best spot for Yangtze River views. The best place to view the river is E'bizui Park, which features military tunnels, wooden boardwalks along the riverbank, a small hill for elevated sightseeing, and cannon emplacements on the hill.

Jiangyin Fortress National Forest Park is located in the suburbs of Jiangyin City, covering an operating area of 273 hectares. Huangshan Mountain within the park stands at an elevation of 91.5 meters and faces Gushan Mountain on the northern bank of the river, forming the second gateway of the Yangtze River after Wusongkou. Historically, it has been a strategic fortress. During the War of Resistance against Japan, it was a bombing target for the Japanese invaders, and most of the trees were destroyed. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, extensive afforestation efforts turned the mountain area into lush woodlands. The main tree species include Chinese fir, Masson pine, loblolly pine, black locust, and oak, along with large areas of bamboo groves and tea plantations. Six of the ancient “Eight Scenic Spots of Old Chengjiang (Jiangyin),” namely Stone Bay Spring Clearing, Yangtze Autumn Waves, Sea Gate Welcoming the Sun, Huaidian Sunny View, Sandy Islet Evening Ferry, and E'bizui Snow Accumulation, are located within the forest park. The Huangshan Fort is the most significant historical site in the area and was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit in 1982. The park also features the Chen Yi Poetry Monument, Wangjiang Tower, Junshan Park, and E'bizui Park for visitors to admire and explore. The Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge, completed in 1998 with a main span of 1,585 meters, is the fourth-longest and China’s longest suspension highway bridge in the world, adding brilliance to the forest park.

Address: Shanqian Road, Jiangyin City, Wuxi

Type: Urban park, forest, mountain, military

Rating: AAAA

Recommended visiting time: 2–3 hours

Phone: 0510-86851868

Opening hours:

The scenic area is open all day; the opening hours of the smaller attractions are generally from 8:00 to 17:00.

Ticket information:

Free entry. The scenic area is free to enter; E'bizui Park costs 30 RMB, the Jiangyin Military Culture Museum costs 20 RMB, and a combined ticket for both is 35 RMB.

Information source: Huzhou New District Network of Suqian City