Nanjing Purple Mountain Self-guided Walking Tour, Nanjing, China

Purple Mountain (known in Chinese as Zijinshan or Zhongshan) is a 450 metre high mountain peak close to the centre of Nanjing. The mountain’s name comes from the ‘golden-purple’ clouds which can often be seen around the peak in the early mornings. In Chinese, the mountain was renamed Zhongshan after a pseudonym used by the revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, who is now buried at its foothills.

An auspicious site for centuries, Purple Mountain first came into the national spotlight when the tomb of the first Ming Emperor was constructed here in 1381. The area saw a renewed focus of attention when Nanjing again became the capital of China during the early 20th century, and it contains numerous structures related to the Republic of China government of the 1920s and 30s and the Kuomintang, the dominant political party of that time. With fantastic natural scenery, nationally significant cultural sites and easy transport links on the metro, this is a must-see area while visiting Nanjing. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).