Nanjing Hydrangea Park

Nanjing Hydrangea Park

Hydrangea Park is located in the northwest corner of the ancient city of Nanjing, on the north side outside Yijiang Gate and at the foot of the ancient city wall, covering an area of 145 mu. The park is situated on the north side outside Yijiang Gate, with the city wall to the east, the moat to the west, Zhongshan North Road to the south, and Jianning Road to the north. It spans 143.46 mu (95,683 square meters), including: water surface 54.16 mu (36,128 square meters); land area 89.3 mu (59,557 square meters).

The Hydrangea Hill, which rises from the ground within the park, was a reef in the river shallows before the Song and Yuan dynasties. It is an extension of Lion Mountain, shaped like a ball, symbolizing the "lion crouching on a hydrangea." When the park was established in 1952, it was thus named. The total area of Hydrangea Park is 9.53 hectares, where the Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Memorial Hall and the Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Monument were built. It features landscapes such as Hydrangea Hill, Empress Ma’s Footprint, East Lake, Fish Viewing Pond, Three Islands of West Garden, Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Memorial Hall, and Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Monument.

Hydrangea Hill is located in the northern part of the park, an extension of Lion Mountain, standing alone to the south of Lion Mountain, forming the scene of "a lion crouching on a hydrangea."

On the western cliff, there is an indentation on a stone, 84 cm long, 31 cm wide, and 25 cm deep, said to be the "footprint of Empress Ma." Beside it stands a statue of Empress Ma, 2.5 meters tall. When Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty commanded his troops to fight Chen Youliang from Lion Mountain, and when the ambush forces rose and defeated Chen’s army, Empress Ma, watching the battle, stomped her foot in excitement, leaving this footprint. Curiously, this "footprint" holds water year-round and does not dry up even in three years of severe drought. This story is widely circulated among the people.

East Lake is located in the central part of the park, with a water surface of over 2.55 hectares. The lakeside is lined with weeping willows, and pleasure boats can navigate the lake. The Fish Viewing Pond is located west of East Lake, separated only by a causeway, featuring rockeries and various stone formations where visitors can enjoy fish viewing by the water. The Three Islands of West Garden are located at the northern end of the Fish Viewing Pond, covering 0.08 hectares. These islands are separated from the pond by a corridor, a single-walled scenic divider, measuring 53.42 meters long and 3.3 meters wide. From here, visitors can view the Three Islands of West Garden to the north, the Fish Viewing Pond to the south, and the scenic beauty of mountains, waters, city, and forests to the east.

Hydrangea Park is an important part of the Lion Mountain Scenic Area. Within the park, mountains, water, city, and forests blend seamlessly, combining natural beauty, elegance, antiquity, and ingenuity. It is filled with birdsong and floral fragrance year-round, offering pleasant scenery and divided into ten major scenic areas. The Lakeside Viewing Tower area is the best spot to admire the Yuejiang Tower on Lion Mountain. The Hydrangea Hill Scenic Area centers around the footprint, legend, and life achievements of Empress Ma of the Ming Dynasty, revealing deeper aspects of Ming culture. At the hilltop is a pavilion, from which visitors can enjoy panoramic views. The East View showcases the grand city towers (now the Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Memorial Hall). To the south are newly built skyscrapers, to the west the Yangtze River resembles a ribbon, and to the north the majestic Lion Ridge. Looking down from the hill, shimmering waters ripple amid green trees, with pavilions, corridors, bridges, rockeries, flower beds, and a children’s playground dotting the landscape. The park remains lush year-round, fragrant with flowers in all seasons, offering beautiful and pleasant scenery. The City Foot Recreation Area offers over ten types of amusement facilities for teenagers and children. The Sunset Leisure Area is a “paradise” for elderly people to enjoy themselves. The Three Islands of Hydrangea are ideal spots for young couples to meet and connect. The park features mountains, water, city, and forests, with compact and exquisite landscaping—both serene and elegant, as well as majestic and profound—showcasing the charm of a Jiangnan-style garden.

Within the park, the Monument to the Mass Graves of Victims of the Japanese Invasion at Yijiang Gate, along with the Victory of Crossing the Yangtze River Memorial Hall and Monument (inscribed and handwritten by [Comrade]) in the jurisdiction, are both provincial-level cultural heritage protection units and patriotic education bases in Jiangsu Province.

The park was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution but was rebuilt in 1978, reopened to the public in October 1979, and listed as one of the New Forty-Eight Scenic Spots of Jinling in 1984. It has become a comprehensive garden attraction integrating tourism, sightseeing, leisure, and entertainment in the riverside urban area, and is also an important site in the Lion Mountain Scenic Area. Buses 10, 16, 18, 21, 31, 32, 34, and 302 can all reach the park, making transportation very convenient.

Address: No. 406, Zhongshan North Road, Gulou District, Nanjing (near Hunan Road)

Type: Urban park

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Phone: 025-58804324

Opening hours:

Open all day