Jiangning Dongshan Camphor Garden

Jiangning Dongshan Camphor Garden

Dongshan Camphor Garden is located on Gongjian Road in Jiangning District, Nanjing. It was preliminarily completed and opened to visitors on April 27, 2012. The garden consists of “Three Gardens and One Plaza”—namely, the Camphor Garden, the Waterside Garden, the Fishing Garden, and the Liang Wudi Plaza—covering an area of 530 acres. It offers visitors distinctive services such as recreation, dining, fishing, and agricultural experiences.

The Camphor Garden is situated in the southern part of the park, covering an area of 130 acres. With fresh air and lush greenery all around, it is a paradise for camphor trees. To date, the garden is home to over 3,500 camphor trees, which have been transplanted from across the country, with an average age of over 50 years. Also known as fragrant camphor, black camphor, or aromatic camphor, the camphor tree is one of the Four Famous Trees of the Jiangnan region (alongside nanmu, catalpa, and tung trees). It is a tall, evergreen arbor of the genus Cinnamomum, which can grow up to 50 meters tall and live for a thousand years. People often regard camphor trees as scenic or feng shui trees, symbolizing warding off evil, longevity, and good fortune. The unique fragrance emitted by the camphor trees has detoxifying and mosquito-repelling effects, making this camphor grove a natural “urban oxygen bar” and “city green lung,” beloved by many middle-aged and elderly visitors.

In the northern part of the Camphor Garden lies a clear pool called “Deyin Pool.” Legend has it that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, this area was close to the former residence of Emperor Liang Wudi, and high-ranking officials often passed by the pool. Later, a local scholar retrieved an official seal from the pool, after which his career flourished, hence the name of the pool. Over time, Deyin Pool once degraded into a shallow pond, but through dredging and landscaping, its historical appearance has been restored, making it a unique water feature within the Camphor Garden.

North of Deyin Pool lies the 310-acre Waterside Garden. The garden features an observation deck offering panoramic views of the scenic beauty within. Each waterside farmhouse is operated as a “nongjiale” (rural homestay) by local farmers, where visitors can enjoy authentic local dishes after exploring the park. The garden also has edible fungus and vegetable picking bases, along with farming tools such as waterwheels and windmills, allowing visitors to engage hands-on and experience poetic rural life.

At the northernmost end of the park is the 40-acre Fishing Garden, where various fish species are artificially stocked. Fishing platforms are built along the pond for visitors to enjoy leisurely fishing. To the east of the Fishing Garden stands the former office building of the Airport Village, which locals call the “Red Building” because it was visited by the former President of China.

Across the water from the “Red Building,” located to the west of the Fishing Garden, is the 50-acre Liang Wudi Plaza. In 420 AD, the Eastern Jin Dynasty fell, ushering in the politically chaotic period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Amidst this turmoil, “there was one old man, Xiao Yan, who could be regarded as a worthy ruler of the Southern Dynasties” (as noted by Qian Mu). Emperor Liang Wudi, Xiao Yan, was born in 464 AD at Sanqiao Residence in Tongxia Li, Moling County, according to historical records. Experts have confirmed that Sanqiao Residence was located near today’s Airport Village, and many anecdotes related to Emperor Liang Wudi, such as “donating a residence to build a temple” and “hiding ships in the dock,” took place nearby. Although the former prosperity has long faded with the passage of time, the lingering charm of history has grown richer through oral tradition. Even today, remnants of history can still be seen: near Dongshan Camphor Garden were once Huangshang Village (Emperor Liang’s residence), Huayuan Village (the imperial garden), and Aodong Village (east of the dock)—place names that echo through the mists of time, telling stories of past grandeur.

Two kilometers south of Dongshan Camphor Garden lies Dongshan, known for the ancient “Jinling Forty-Eight Scenic Spots” view of “Autumn Moon over Dongshan.” Originally named Tushan (Earthen Mountain), Dongshan is also located within Zhongqian Community. It got its name when Xie An, a famous prime minister of the Jin Dynasty, held banquets and built a villa here in imitation of his former residence on Dongshan in Kuaiji. In 383 AD, the Battle of Fei River broke out, and Xie An turned the tide of the battle with a calm game of chess atop Dongshan, creating a military legend of defeating a million troops with just eighty thousand. As a result, Dongshan gained fame throughout the land. For thousands of years, poets and scholars have written countless verses about it, forming a rich cultural heritage of Dongshan.

Transportation Guide

Address: Gongjian Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province

Transit: Take bus No. 22 in Jiangning, Nanjing, and get off at Qianyan’er’gang Station.