Jiangning Dongshan Park

Jiangning Dongshan Park

Covering an area of 7.07 hectares, Dongshan Park is also known as Tushan (Earth Mountain), standing 62.1 meters high. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Prime Minister Xie An was tasked with defending against the million-strong invading army of Fu Jian from the Former Qin. While dispatching renowned generals to lead 80,000 elite troops into battle, Xie An also visited his family and friends at his villa on Dongshan to play “Go while viewing the estate,” helping to calm public anxiety. The Battle of Feishui saw the defeat of Fu Jian’s massive forces, setting a precedent for victory against overwhelming odds. Ruins of the “Dongshan Villa” remain on the mountain. Historically, Dongshan was covered with dense forests, and “the mountain was abundant with roses that bloomed in spring, radiant as brocade, making it a popular destination for visitors.” In 1934 (the 23rd year of the Republic of China), a Xie Gong Shrine, a Loyalty and Righteousness Shrine, and a pavilion were built on the mountain, with plans to develop it into a garden area. During the Japanese occupation of Jiangning, the original structures fell into disrepair. After the victory in the War of Resistance, the Nationalist government built fortifications here and cut down the trees, turning Dongshan into a barren hill.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, starting in 1953, the government mobilized the public to plant trees on Tushan every year. By 1977, the mountain was covered in lush greenery and was officially named Dongshan Forest Park. Later, a series of garden structures were built, and in 1983 it was renamed Dongshan Park. The park now boasts over 70,000 trees, nearly 100 varieties of plants, a circular hiking trail, and various distinctive garden buildings.

At the southern foot of Dongshan lies Furong Pond, which is round in shape. The pond features a man-made rockery, lotus plants in the water, and a lawn square along the shore, surrounded by tall trees and flowering shrubs. About 30 meters up the mountainside, on the western side of the hiking trail, stands Siyuan Pavilion. This hexagonal pavilion has red pillars and upturned eaves, with evergreen trees planted nearby that shimmer in vibrant green. Above Siyuan Pavilion is the “Pine Heaven Screen,” and the circular doorway is inscribed with the characters “Pine Heaven.” On the eastern side of the hiking trail, there is a concrete platform that offers an excellent spot for moon viewing. From here, you can look up to admire the moonlight or gaze down to take in the night view of Dongshan Town. The southeastern sides of the platform are adorned with carved concrete railings, and the gate is inscribed with “Autumn Moon on Dongshan,” accompanied by the couplet: “Climb the mountain and ponder Prime Minister Xie’s strategy; admire the moon and softly recite the poetry of Li Bai.” To the north of the moon-viewing platform stands a two-story flat-roof building with two rooms, named Hanle Pavilion. To its east is an exhibition greenhouse with a floor area of 200 square meters. To the west of the moon-viewing platform is Long Pavilion, whose pillars are carved with twin dragons, symbolizing peace and prosperity in the new era. On the southern and southeastern slopes, there are also Fang Pavilion and Buse Pavilion. Fang Pavilion is square-shaped and named for its view over the flower beds of Ju Hui Garden. Buse Pavilion is a hexagonal structure with upturned eaves and red pillars, continuing the name of the historical Buse Pavilion from the Three Kingdoms period on the mountain.

The greening and landscaping on the southern slope of the mountain mainly feature cedar, magnolia, and Chinese juniper trees, complemented by osmanthus, crape myrtle, cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, peach blossoms, crabapple, winter jasmine, and trumpet creeper. At the mountaintop stands a century-old dragon cypress, verdant and stately. The eastern slope of the mountain is home to Dongpo Rock Garden, where bare rocks and rugged stones are interspersed with fragrant camphor, maple, plum, and osmanthus trees. The western slope of Dongshan is gently sloped, covered with lush green grass, scattered rocks, sparse trees, and winding paths—making it an ideal spot for rest.

Transportation Guide

Address: Wenjing West Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 137, 191, Dongwang Line, Jiang 18, or Jiang 22 within Nanjing City and get off at Tushan Road Station.