Nanjing Muyan Scenic Area

Nanjing Muyan Scenic Area

Nanjing Muyan Scenic Area stretches from Shangyuanmen in the west to Yanziji in the east, borders the Yangtze River to the north, and extends to Weiyi Road in the south, covering a total area of over 10,500 acres. The Muyan Scenic Area encompasses six of the “Forty-Eight Scenic Spots of Jinling”: Mufu Hill Climb, Damo Ancient Cave, Yanziji Sunset, Yongji River Flow, Jiashan Scripture Hearing, and Hualong Beautiful Land. In addition, it also features municipal cultural heritage sites such as the Tomb of Tao Xingzhi, Yanziji, and Toutai Cave.

“The vegetation restoration project on Mufu Mountain has achieved good transformation of the forest,” commented a forestry expert. According to reports, in recent years, the local team has planted over 90 varieties of seedlings on the mountain based on five greening principles: locality, adaptability, diversity, ornamental value, and economic benefit. The focus has been on vigorous, climate- and soil-adapted, and visually appealing plants such as cedar, winter sweet, and photinia; complemented by foliage plants like Chinese tallow tree, tung tree, and torch tree; accented with fruit-bearing plants such as persimmon, firethorn, and cornus; and not forgetting ornamental flowers like crape myrtle and cherry blossoms.

Along the newly established firebreaks on Mufu Mountain, blooming crape myrtle peeks out from behind dense stands of winged euonymus, while the ground is carpeted with thick layers of golden flame spirea and Japanese spirea. Delicate small flowers scatter across the two-toned lawns, creating a delightful sight. In spring and summer, the scenic area is graced with red and white ornamental flowers like cherry blossoms and crape myrtle; in autumn, fiery red foliage plants like torch tree take center stage; even in winter, evergreen cedars and photinia help beautify Mufu Mountain. With the environmental improvements on Mufu Mountain, wild bird populations have gradually increased, and more people are coming up the mountain for morning exercise and sightseeing.

The “Flowers Embroidered on Stone” attraction was created by workers who chiseled planting slots into the cliff face using pneumatic picks, then filled the slots with fertile soil, and finally planted climbing plants such as privet, trumpet creeper, honeysuckle, Boston ivy, trachelospermum, and winter sweet. A few months later, the miraculously encouraging results were achieved—93,500 square meters were successfully greened, with 77,900 plants of 12 species taking root. This pioneering effort was playfully dubbed “flowers embroidered on stone” by horticultural experts. Today, greenery abounds across this once-bare rocky surface.

In recent years, the Muyan Scenic Area Management Office has not only continued with vegetation restoration but has also constructed nearly ten kilometers of firebreaks. Serving as a vital link, these firebreaks connect various scenic spots and lay the foundation for further tourism development. From the establishment of the Muyan Scenic Area Management Office to the unveiling of corresponding design drafts by planning authorities, Mufu Mountain has taken solid steps toward becoming a tourist destination. The goal is to develop a fully mature Muyan Scenic Area for residents as soon as possible.