Nanjing Gulin Park

Nanjing Gulin Park

Gulin Park was built on the site of the former Gulin Temple and takes its name from the temple. The Gulin Temple was established during the Liang Dynasty, originally known as Guanyin Nunnery. During the Southern Song Dynasty, it was called Gulin Nunnery, and in the Ming Dynasty, the nunnery was converted into a temple, becoming a major Buddhist site in the western part of the city. Located to the north of Qingliang Mountain and west of Hujubei Road, the park’s name is inscribed on a stone wall by Lin Sanzhi. Covering an area of over 400 acres, the park features undulating hills and varied elevations. Gulin Park was built on the former site of Baolin Nunnery, which belonged to the original Gulin Temple. It was named after the historic temple to commemorate this ancient southern monastery.

During the Plum Blossom Festival, Nanjing Gulin Park hosts a “Plum Exhibition.” Through cultivation and introduction, the park displays nearly 3,000 plum blossoms of 60 fine varieties, including Xiaolü’e, Taohong Zhusha, Canxue, Dayu, and Sakuhashi Red. The park has also set up a 330-square-meter plum bonsai exhibition within the rockery at the main gate, featuring over a hundred plum bonsai of various sizes. Visitors can appreciate not only the blossoms but also the profound artistry of plum blossom displays.

The Peony Garden is located in the southwest corner of the park. Built into the hillside and carved out of rock, the garden features a two-meter-tall statue of the Peony Fairy standing in its center. Peonies are renowned for their large, beautiful blooms and are hailed as the “king of flowers” and “national beauty and heavenly fragrance.” The garden cultivates over 250 varieties of peonies, totaling more than 3,000 plants, along with herbaceous peonies. During the “Grain Rain Peony Viewing” season, both peonies and herbaceous peonies bloom in succession, creating a scene of prosperity. Visitors immersed in the garden feel refreshed and reluctant to leave. The Peony Pavilion, built against the hillside with an area of about 150 square meters, offers a delightful setting for flower appreciation.

Gulin Park features diverse terrain with varying elevations, providing a natural environment ideal for park development. The Sifang Bajing Pavilion is situated at the highest point in the center of the park. The newly built structure covers an area of 575 square meters, has three floors, a double-eaved roof, and a total height of 16 meters. The third floor is equipped with an outer corridor for visitors to enjoy the view. From the top-floor platform, visitors can take in the scenery of all park areas as well as the majestic layout of the Dragon-Coiled Zhongshan Mountain and the Tiger-Crouching Stone City. The ground floor includes a large platform base covering 454 square meters, with granite steps spanning 140 square meters. Together with the 303-meter television transmission tower built on a 36-meter-high hill in the western part of the park, they form a striking visual pair.

Address: No. 21, Hujubei North Road, Gulou District, Nanjing (near Beijing West Road)

Type: Urban Park

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 025-83701714

Official Website: http://gl.nju.gov.cn/

Opening Hours:

7:30–20:30; free entry for morning exercise (around 5:30–7:00)

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 10.0 RMB