Trip Overview
When: March 2021 (early spring)
Duration: 1 day (full marathon walk)
Travelers: Solo walker, with friends
Budget: ~30 RMB (~$4.30 USD)
Transportation: Walking
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Start from Zhongshan Mountain Villa (钟山山庄) in Nanjing. Take a taxi or Didi to the starting point.
Money Matters: This route is almost entirely free! Most attractions along the route are open parks and roads. Bring 30-50 RMB for water and snacks.
Language: Basic English won't help much here—most signage is in Chinese. Download an offline map of Nanjing before you go.
Route Tips: This is a 42km (26-mile) walking route. Start early (around 7 AM) to finish before dark. The route is well-signed but having a GPS tracker helps.
Section 1: Jiangwangmiao Street (蒋王庙街)
The adventure begins at Zhongshan Mountain Villa, heading clockwise toward the intersection. This road has been my companion for years—every tree and bend is familiar. Today's detour: the Memorial Hall for Anti-Japanese Air Force Martyrs (抗日航空烈士纪念馆).
This is the world's first international memorial hall dedicated to WWII air heroes from China, the US, and the Soviet Union who fought together against Japanese invaders. As I paid respects at the cemetery, light rain began to fall—nature's tribute, perhaps. I lingered here nearly an hour, moved by the stories of young pilots who flew knowing they might not return.
Section 2: Huanling Road (环陵路)
From the intersection, I enter Huanling Road—and honestly, this is my first time walking it. This stretch is part of the Purple Mountain Greenway, threading through forest with gentle hills that make walking feel effortless. The standout: Huangma Reservoir (黄马水库), hidden in the eastern foothills of Purple Mountain.
First time here, and the silence is striking. The reservoir's rippling surface mirrors Purple Mountain perfectly. Even on this overcast day, the scene feels like a Chinese ink painting come to life.
Section 3: Zijinshan East Road (紫金山东路)
After crossing Xianlin Avenue, I turn onto Zijinshan East Road—and the scenery ramps up dramatically. Birdsong,花香 (flower fragrance), sports parks, Liuhuixie (流徽榭), the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (孙中山纪念馆), Zhongshan Mausoleum—every turn invites me to slow down.
Pro tip: This section gets progressively hillier, and foot traffic increases. For safety, I kept my mask on—the pandemic precautions were still in effect.
Section 4: Lingyuan Road (陵园路)
After an hour at Zhongshan Mausoleum, I continue onto Lingyuan Road—specifically for those legendary French plane trees (法国梧桐) that canopy the entire road.
In China, plane trees have always been auspicious. Since the first French plane tree arrived in Nanjing in 1872, they've become synonymous with the city. Walking under these towering giants, the road becomes a natural tunnel—peaceful in a way that's hard to find elsewhere.
Must-see along the way: Meiling Palace (美龄宫), Dajin Gate (大金门), Sifangcheng (四方城), and the famous Stone Statue Road (石像路)—where nature meets Nanjing's 1,700-year imperial history.
Section 5: Meihuagu Road (梅花谷路)
Continuing from Lingyuan Road, I turn onto Meihuagu Road. It's early spring, and this road is already buried in flower seas. After a long winter, seeing such beauty is intoxicating.
Near the entrance, there's a particularly photogenic metasequoia (水杉) grove—serene, upright, peaceful. I've loved metasequoias since childhood; seeing them always triggers nostalgic memories.
Section 6: Zhiwuyuan Road & Taipingmen Road (植物园路 & 太平门路)
Starting from Qianhu Lake, I follow the lakeside and city wall northward, passing the Liao Zhongkai Tomb and Pipa Lake, until reaching Taipingmen. The Ming Dynasty wall here is called "Dragon's Neck"—reputedly the steepest section of Nanjing's ancient wall.
Reality check: This area is incredibly nostalgic for me—my middle school was nearby, and these paths are filled with childhood memories.
Section 7: Huanhu Road (环湖路)
Reaching Taipingmen early, I still had 6km to go to reach 42km. So I detoured: Huanhu Road around the lake. This route is popular for good reason—except for the crowds, it's lovely. By now, fatigue was setting in, and I barely noticed the scenery.
Section 8: Xuanwu Avenue & Huaxin West Road (玄武大道 & 华新西路)
From Xinzhuang Interchange through Yingtie Village to Jiangwangmiao—these two roads share one trait: chaotic and noisy. I pushed through, step by step, growing more exhausted. This final stretch was pure willpower. But victory was near—I completed the full marathon just as my phone battery died.
Epilogue
This day was particularly meaningful and unforgettable for me—42km through Nanjing's most beautiful landscapes, from Purple Mountain to Xuanwu Lake, through ancient streets and modern avenues. If you're a walking enthusiast visiting Nanjing, this route is absolute heaven.