Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain is a national forest park.

Also known as Zhongshan Mountain, Purple Mountain is located outside Zhongshan Gate in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Its main peak stands at an elevation of 448 meters, with a surrounding area of about 30 kilometers, and is a national key scenic spot. The mountain features steep and winding terrain like a dragon, and has been famous since the Three Kingdoms and Han dynasties. There are numerous historical sites around Zhongshan Mountain: to the south of the mountain are the Zixia Cave and One-Person Spring; in the center in front of the mountain is the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; to the west are the Plum Blossom Hill, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and the tombs of Liao Zhongkai and He Xiangning; to the east are the Linggu Park and the tomb of Deng Yanda; to the north are the tombs of Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, and other figures from the Ming Dynasty. During the Six Dynasties period, there were many temples on the mountain, but today only the Linggu Temple remains, located on the left side of the mountain.

Purple Mountain – Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the joint burial tomb of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and his empress, Ma. It is situated at the foot of the Twin Dragon Mound and Play Bead Peak on the southern slope of Purple Mountain in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing. Adjacent to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to the east and facing Plum Blossom Hill to the south, it is the largest imperial mausoleum in Nanjing and also one of the largest ancient imperial tombs in China. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.

Purple Mountain – Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on Purple Mountain is the resting place of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great forerunner of modern China's democratic revolution. It is located on the southern slope of the Xiaomao Hill, the second peak of Purple Mountain. The main structures of the mausoleum are built along the mountain’s contours, surrounded by lush pine trees. When visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and looking up at the towering Purple Mountain, with its vast green forests, verdant pines and cypresses, and rustling woods, one can’t help but reflect on the great achievements of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. For many years, people have come here to pay their respects and express admiration for this national hero.

Purple Mountain – Astronomical Observatory

Located on the western peak of Zhongshan Mountain, the observatory can be reached by turning right out of Taiping Gate and following the mountain road. Completed in 1934, it was the only astronomical observatory in China before liberation. At that time, the observatory was mainly equipped with a 20-centimeter catadioptric telescope, a 60-centimeter reflecting telescope, and some smaller instruments. In 1937, as the Japanese army approached Nanjing, the astronomers evacuated with the main parts of the telescopes to inland areas, and the remaining equipment was severely damaged. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the observatory was gradually restored. It houses some of China’s ancient and precious astronomical instruments, as well as many modern astronomical observation devices and equipment made in China, including a 60-centimeter catadioptric telescope, solar telescopes, and artificial satellite tracking systems, making it a comprehensive astronomical research institution. The observatory conducts observations and research on the sun, stars, planets, artificial satellites, radio astronomy, calendrics, timekeeping, and astronomical instruments. It has compiled China’s Astronomical Yearbook, discovered a series of new celestial bodies such as asteroids, comets, flare stars, and variable stars, and provided valuable data for research topics such as planetary and interstellar physics, the evolution of the solar system, stellar physics, and stellar evolution. It has also achieved certain results in the theory of artificial satellite motion, the manufacturing of astronomical instruments, and astrophysical research.

Purple Mountain – Cable Car

The Purple Mountain Cable Car is 2,350 meters long with a height difference of 330 meters, making it the longest chairlift-style cable car in China. It runs from Taiping Gate Fortress City through the Purple Mountain Astronomical Observatory to Toutuoling. Tianbao City and Dibao City were two important military fortresses built during the Taiping Rebellion. Tianbao City is located on the western peak, now within the Purple Mountain Astronomical Observatory, built on a cliff with a view overlooking the entire city. Dibao City is situated at the foot of the western peak, outside Taiping Gate, with sturdy artillery positions. These two fortresses supported each other, making them easy to defend and hard to attack. Toutuoling is the second peak of Zhongshan Mountain, with an elevation of 425 meters, and is the terminal station of the sightseeing cable car. Here, massive cliffs rise steeply, offering breathtaking views.