There are many entrances to the Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area. This is Gate 7 closest to Zixia Lake.

As soon as we entered Gate 7, we did not follow the main road to the Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area, but turned into the mountain forest road on the right.

These cute kittens can be seen everywhere in the mountains and forests. Some familiar citizens will bring food to feed them and give them nice names. Call them as soon as you come to the mountains and forests. According to them, different cats are stationed in each territory.

On the way to Zixia Lake, I saw Yan Zhenqing's Forest of Steles. Outside the forest of steles is a gatehouse with white walls and red frieze. The gatehouse is engraved with "Collection of Book Stars".

The entire forest of steles imitates the architectural art style of the Tang Dynasty, solemn, simple, elegant and graceful.

The entire area is surrounded by stele corridors, and steles still stand in the garden.

The stone tablet on the stele corridor

The forest of steles was jointly built by Sun Yat-sen Cemetery, Yan Zhenqing Painting Academy and the Chinese Calligraphy Research Society in Tokyo, Japan. There are nearly a hundred steles, some of which are written by famous calligraphers Lin Sanzhi and Hu Xiaoshi, and some are created by famous Japanese calligraphy. The statue of Yan Zhenqing surrounded by ancient trees at the end of the forest of steles. I don't understand calligraphy, just look at the momentum.

Plum blossoms in early spring correspond to the stone tablets.

Ancient trees surround the statue of Yan Zhenqing

It is a mountain forest road. There are not many tourists and it is very pleasant to walk along.

roadside pavilion

a pool of

one house

Continuing upwards, the vision suddenly became clear halfway up the mountain. An emerald-Zixia Lake-sleeps in the forest.

Zixia Lake was built in 1935 and is an artificial water storage lake donated by patriotic overseas Chinese Hu Wenhu. There is a stone carving here, and the word "Tianchi" is a true portrayal of Zixia Lake.

Think about the first time I came to Zixia Lake, more than 20 years ago, when I and my classmates rode all the way from South Lake to have a picnic here. How much did I change when I was young then and now? When you think about it, there is not much difference. It is still a peaceful and letting nature take its course.

Tourists from other places rarely come here, and most of the people who come here are local citizens. This is a paradise for Nanjing winter swimming enthusiasts, because of the good water quality!

Groups of friends come here for a small gathering. This is a new weapon-a small stove, which makes tea with freshly brewed water, and is a very bourgeois style. Being in the mountain oxygen bar, it would be nice to brew a good pot of tea, talk about each other's lives, or sit quietly without saying anything.

Pudan is a card game that Nanjing people love to play. It is an enviable retirement life to play with three or five friends in such a natural oxygen bar.

There are also lovely children. Everything in nature is very tempting to them. A stone or a small insect can be enjoyed for a while.

To the north of the lake is Toutuo Peak, the main peak of Zijin Mountain. It is now early spring. Although there is no spreading green, you can still feel the feeling of the mountains on the north bank. Such lakes and mountains are pleasant to people's hearts.

The mountains and forests are not green yet. It seems that the green of the lake is not due to the backdrop of the mountains and forests, but its own green. Even if it is green, a lake water also turns green with different greens. You can still clearly see the stones at the bottom of the lake. An inch away from the shore, the green becomes thicker. Gradually, the thick green seems to have slipped into the unfathomable bottom of the lake.

The lake is rich in vegetation and many ancient trees.

There is a Republic of China water tower in the southwest corner of Zixia Lake, which is very contemporary.

From this perspective, the lake water is more colorful, with blue in the distance, green in the distance...

The source of Zixia Lake mainly comes from the flowing water on the southern slope of Zijin Mountain, which is nearly a million square meters of ground. The mountains and rivers wash down the two large ditches in the east and west and merge into the lake.

From north to south on the west bank of the lake is a large ditch formed by direct erosion of mountains and rivers

There is a mountain trail on the north side of the lake

Climb along the trail

There is a pavilion halfway up the mountain-Zhengqi Pavilion. The Zhengqi Pavilion was built in 1947 and is the tomb site of Chiang Kai-shek's choice. In the spring of 1947, Chiang Kai-shek chose a place for himself to die here.

The pavilion is square, of reinforced concrete structure, with multiple eaves and spires, covered with glazed tiles, and the base is supported by Suzhou granite. The three characters "Zhengqi Pavilion" are Chiang Kai-shek's personal letters, and he wrote a couplet. The first couplet "The majestic spirit connects the Loyalty Tower" and the second couplet "Purple clouds cover the Mount Everest."

Behind the pavilion is the inscription of "The Story of Righteousness Pavilion". Sun Ke wrote an article.

The Zhengqi Pavilion can continue upwards, and a wild road leads directly to Tuotuo Ridge.

Instead of continuing up, I returned to the east side of Zixia Lake the same way.

To the east of the lake is a shoal with shallow water, and there is even less water this season. From this stone bridge, you can see how deep the water from the mountains and forests is here in summer.

Red bridges and red pavilions jump exceptionally in the mountains and forests in early spring.

Zixia Lake is surrounded by mountains and forests. There are few tourists and few sounds. The silence in the mountains and forests makes me feel like I can hear the ripples in the lake.

The fluttering sound of wild ducks suddenly broke the silence of the mountains and forests.

Seeing such a picture makes it feel elegant, mysterious, and even enlightened.

Go around the lake and return to the Tianchi Monument.

I sat here quietly for a while again, looking at the mountains and lakes. Mountains are the support of the lake, and the lake is the tenderness of the mountain. I use my eyes, my breath, and my heart to taste the purity that spreads here from the deepest point. Imagine the thick green in summer here, imagine the brilliance of autumn here, imagine the different scenery here all year round...

No matter how history changes, you are still you

down the mountain

The pavilions in the mountains and forests allow you to rest and view the scenery. They are all beautiful designs.

He did not completely return along the original road, but turned right towards the Ming Xiaoling Tomb

The Wenwu Square Gate of the Ming Xiaoling Tomb is the gate of the Xiaoling Tomb. There are 5 door leaves, 3 large and 2 small, 3 in the middle are arched door openings, and 2 on both sides are square door leaves. The top of the hall is covered with light yellow roof tiles and a red door. A square door forehead is hung on the top of the door, and four gold-plated characters are written in vertical letters: "Square Gate with both Civil and Military".

These are square doors on both sides

The sun shines the shadow of the tree on the red wall, which is very artistic

Many people took photos here in the light and shadow, which was very psychedelic.

We did not enter the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and continued south along the road outside the Wenwu Square Gate.

Ancient trees stand tall on both sides of the avenue, and the number of tourists here has suddenly increased. This makes me, who has just enjoyed the tranquility of Zixia Lake, a little uncomfortable and eager to leave the hustle and bustle here.

At this end of the avenue is Jinshui Bridge, a bridge that leads directly to the Mausoleum Palace. When it was originally built, there were a total of five bridges arranged in one word, so it was also called the "Five Dragons Bridge". Now there are only three in the middle. The bridge body has a bridge, with scattered water dragon heads and guardrails on both sides.

To the south of Jinshui Bridge is the square. The square is surrounded by Plum Blossom Mountain. This is the Plum Blossom Festival in Nanjing, and the colorful plum blossoms make this place extremely bright. There is a "World Cultural Heritage" stele above the square. In 1961, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was announced as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In July 2003, at the 27th World Heritage Conference, Ming Xiaoling was included in the World Heritage List as an expansion project of the "Royal Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties" and became a member of the World Heritage List.

The plum blossoms on Meihua Mountain have always been popular among tourists and Nanjing citizens, but I never deliberately come here to watch it because of the large number of people, but I was still shocked by its beauty when I passed by.

Tens of thousands of plum blossoms are blooming here, stacked on top of each other, clouds are steaming, and flowers are blooming all over the mountains.

They just made no secret and rushed at me in all directions.

We didn't go deep into Meihua Mountain because we didn't want to be intertwined with the people of people. We just passed by Meihua Mountain and left from Gate 7 of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. Even if we hurried by, we could see your beauty.

I came for Zixia Lake, enjoyed the tranquility and elegance of Zixia Lake, and accidentally enjoyed the excitement and scenery of Meihua Mountain in March. The beauty of Nanjing is everywhere.