Pearl Spring Scenic Area

Pearl Spring Scenic Area

Pearl Spring Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a Nanjing municipal cultural heritage site, and a national water conservancy scenic area.

Pearl Spring Scenic Area is located at the southwestern foot of Ding Mountain in Pukou, Nanjing. The area features a northern subtropical humid monsoon climate. Situated 6 kilometers west of Pukou, it has now been developed into the only provincial-level tourist resort in the Nanjing area, covering an area of more than 1,400 hectares. Legend has it that during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, when the region of Jinling suffered a severe drought, only the area west of Pukou was spared thanks to the Pearl Spring, whose waters allowed crops to thrive as usual. Local farmers were even unaware of the drought. People at the time believed this was the blessing of the Dragon King, and they donated funds to build the Dragon King Pavilion and other garden structures to express their gratitude to the Dragon King. This gave rise to the legend of Pearl Spring.

The spring eye of Pearl Spring releases water from the crevices in the rocks, resembling a string of pearls, hence its name. On the stone wall by the spring, ancient inscriptions read “Ten Thousand Bright Pearls.” In front of the spring is a pool; from a distance, the water droplets appear to splash on the surface like light rain on a sunny day, hence it is called the “Sunny Rain Spring.” If you clap or sing near the pool, the water droplets will respond to the volume of the sound, making it a rare naturally sound-controlled fountain. Its appearance seems to welcome guests, which is why it’s also known as the “Guest-Welcoming Spring.”

The Pearl Spring Scenic Area is nestled against mountains and water. During the Ming Dynasty, over 30 structures including towers, terraces, pavilions, and gazebos, centered around the Dragon King Pavilion, were built here, creating a beautiful landscape that blends mountains, water, and gardens. It was acclaimed as the “Foremost Scenic Spot in Northern Jiangsu” and gained fame across the regions north and south of the Yangtze River. Laoshan National Forest Park is located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, east of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge and west of the Chuzhou River in Anhui. The park covers an area of 8,000 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 80%. The undulating mountains are covered with ancient lush trees and elegant bamboo groves. The area features a northern subtropical humid monsoon climate. The scenery is pleasant in all four seasons: peach blossoms and willows green in spring, dense forests in summer, crisp autumn air with colorful foliage, and proud red plum blossoms in the snow in winter. It is suitable for travel all year round. The hilly terrain in the area meanders and is part of the eastern extension of Laoshan Mountain. It mainly consists of dolomite and limestone, featuring grotesque rocks and steep peaks. Miaogaofeng (Wonderful Peak), Shizifeng (Lion Peak), and Furongfeng (Lotus Peak) stand tall on the northern side of the area. The highest peak is Miaogaofeng, with an elevation of 255 meters. The peaks encircle the area, surrounded by lush woods, deep valleys, glistening waters, springs chasing cloud shadows, and countless bright pearls, offering delightful charm. It is renowned for its elegant reputation of beautiful mountains, exquisite stones, lovely waters, and unique springs.

In 1984, the Nanjing Municipal People's Government decided to rebuild the scenic area and listed it as one of Jiangsu Province’s seven key tourism development projects — the Nanjing Pearl Spring Tourist Resort. The resort centers around the Pearl Spring Scenic Area, one of the “Forty Scenic Spots of Jinling,” and covers an area of 14.76 square kilometers. In addition to numerous cultural relics from the Southern Dynasties and Ming-Qing periods, the resort also features attractions and entertainment venues that are popular with visitors and under ongoing development: the source of Pearl Spring, boating and rafting on Mirror Mountain Lake, fish viewing and fishing, Meize Pavilion, Chunfeng Pavilion, Plum Sea Gathering Clouds, wild leisure and forest activity areas, a golf course, an alligator breeding farm, a horse racing track, an archery field, wooden cabins, caves, the Lucky Amusement Palace, Wanguo Villa, and Dining Hall at Dingshan Pavilion.

For city dwellers living in increasingly crowded and noisy environments, the freshness and tranquility of the Pearl Spring Scenic Area are treasures beyond monetary value. The lake and mountain views in the area can cleanse the cluttered mind, offering a rare sense of serenity and freshness, as if returning to the warm embrace of Mother Nature. It is a great destination in Nanjing that combines natural landscapes with tourism, leisure, entertainment, vacation, and wellness.

Address: No. 178, Zhenzhu Street, Pukou District, Nanjing

Type: Mountain Spring

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–5 hours

Phone: 025-58601545

Official Website: http://www.zhenzhuquan.com.cn/

Opening Hours:

8:30-17:00

Ticket

Pearl Spring Park: 40 RMB, Zoo: 60 RMB, Combined Pearl Spring + Zoo Ticket: 70 RMB. Children under 1.2 meters are free; children between 1.2–1.4 meters purchase child tickets at 35 RMB; seniors over 60 with a senior ID card pay 35 RMB for senior tickets; military personnel with military ID pay 35 RMB; university students may purchase tickets with a student ID.