Eat Your Heart Out!: Escape to Nanjing Feb 2009

The capital of southern China province Jiangsu, Nanjing has had its fair share of history, culture and tragedies. Nanjing has been the capital of China for six dynasties and Republic of China during the Chinese Civil War the city is the hub for education, research transportation and tourism throughout history. (read about Nanjing here)

My visit was a short 2 days 1 night trip but it was an extremely exciting trip. Apart from being able to visit the beautiful purple mountain where the mausoleum of Dr Sun Yat-sen lies, the ancient Linggu Temple, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the purple mountain observatory, it was a getaway from work for me and a wonderful family trip with my family over the Chinese New Year.

DAY 1 - We took an early Speed Train from Shanghai Train Station in the morning. It took us just slightly over 2 hours to reach Nanjing Train Station. The fare train fare for the Speed Train from Shanghai to Nanjing costs under 200RMB per person.From there, we took a cab to our motel which is located in the middle of Nanjing City at South Zhong Shan Rd, Bai Xia District. It costs us about 25RMB for the cab ride from Nanjing Station. After checking in, we took a cab to purple mountain(紫金山) which took us about 20mins ride and about 30RMB. There were a lot of people as it was only the third day of the Chinese New Year. We bought our tickets 150RMB per person and took our way into the entrance of the Mausoleum of Dr Sun Yat-sen.

The scenery was a welcoming sight and had it not for the weather I would've worn T-shirt and short running all the way up to the mausoleum. The walk up to the mausoleum was no easy task. 392steps to the top after the first gate plus the walk from base was no joke but reaching the peak was a breathtaking view of the Nanjing.

After we came down, we paid 200RMB to rent a tour guide with a cart to visit Linggu Temple, the pagoda and the civil war shrine. After that, we had to squeeze our way into the free train ride back to the mausoleum base then took a walk to the Ming Xiao Ling Mausoleum. It was just a day that we walked and walked and walked til the evening that we decided to go back for a good rest.

DAY 2 - Our visit was restricted due to the downpour in the early morning. We went to the Nanjing Museum which was free entrance and it was an exhilarating experience having to see ancient artifacts and handicrafts created thousands of years ago still lie in front of your very eyes. It gave me a thought that no matter how much technology has advanced, we must never forget about history that had gave us what we have today. Soon after the museum we headed over to Fu Zi Temple where confucious is worshipped here. After that, we had to make way to the train station to depart home for Shanghai. It was a wonderful visit to Nanjing eventhough there were many other beautiful and historical places which I did not manage to visit. I'll be back to Nanjing the next time to learn more about its history.