[Write before the trip]

In March, the spring breeze blows on our faces, and the rainy days in the south of the Yangtze River are right. Spring at this time of year comes with a hazy filter. The gurgling water, the dancing of flowers, and even the singing of birds seem so graceful. The ink style of the misty rain and Jiangnan is faint, swaying in the slow hours of spring.

About an hour away from Nanjing's Urban area, there is such a small city, famous for its slowness. It is clean yet lively, quiet and beautiful. When the Golden Flower Festival is being held here, why not come to Gaochun with me to experience the spring scenery of this international slow city, the comfort and beauty of escaping from the city and getting close to nature.

[Schedule]

DAY1: Youzi Mountain-Yaxi Slow City

DAY2: Ceramic Museum-Gucheng Lake Slow City-Gaochun Old Street

Where do you think of the mountains in Nanjing? Is it Qixia Mountain with red maples falling all over the ground? Or is it the luxurious and glorious Niushou Mountain? Or is it Purple Mountain, a favorite among astronomy enthusiasts? The place we are going to today is also a mountain in Nanjing. It is only 188 meters high, but it combines Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and also has the largest stone Buddha in East China. Do you know where this is?

Yes, this is Youzi Mountain located in Gaochun, Nanjing. Youzi Mountain is named after Confucius came here to play and want to return. It has a very strong historical and cultural heritage, and it is also known as "a Youzi Mountain, a thousand-year history of tourism." The entire core scenic area reaches 3,678.3 hectares, of which the vegetation coverage rate is as high as 89%, so it is also called "Gaochun Green Lung". Among them, the most worth visiting are the three temples that symbolize these three religions.

Zhenru Zen Temple is one of the essence attractions in Youzi Mountain and the lower house of Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Province, one of the four major Buddhist holy places in the country. The entire area reaches 7 hectares and is the most representative one among the lower houses in Jiuhua Mountain.

When you walk into Zhenru Zen Temple, the first thing you see is not the temple but a stone Buddha. This is a gold-plated Amitabha Buddha, reaching 21 meters high and weighing a thousand tons. There are also four great heavenly kings guarding it around. This Buddha statue can be called the "largest stone Buddha in East China". When you get close to it, you will feel how small you are.

In addition, there are three palaces hidden in the mountains. Among them, the Daxiong Hall, located in the middle, is at the head of each lower house on Jiuhua Mountain. It houses the third Buddha. There are also eighteen Arhats on both sides, and the Nanhai Guanyin on the back. The east and west temples are dedicated to the Tibetan King Bodhisattva and the Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes Guanyin Bodhisattva respectively, which are called the Great Wish Hall and the Great Compassion Hall respectively.

The Prayer Garden in Youzi Mountain is also the largest Prayer Garden in East China, and the remaining two temples are hidden in the Prayer Garden. Entering from the entrance of Qifu Garden, take a sightseeing bus in the scenic area and drive about three kilometers on the winding mountain road to reach the highest point of Dayou Mountain, the main peak of Youzi Mountain. The highest altitude is 188 meters, and it is also the highest peak in the entire Gaochun. It is known as the "Saizhu First Victory".

Wenshen Temple is located on this highest peak. Confucius is enshrined in the center of the hall. He was a great saint in ancient China. The origin of the name of Youzishan is also related to him. On both sides were Confucius's favorite students, known in history as "Four Matches and Twelve Philosophers." Today, it has become a place for many students to pray for academic success.

Zhenwu Hall is just behind the Wensheng Hall and is the place for Taoist cultivation. During the Qing Dynasty, Taoist disciples saw that Youzi Mountain was "quiet, strange and beautiful", which was quite immortal, so they built a Taoist temple "Xuanwu Temple" on the top of the mountain. Later, in order to avoid Kangxi's name, they changed its name to "Zhenwu Temple".

Zhenwu Hall covers an area of about 680 square meters and is a typical Hui-style building. In the center of the hall, Emperor Zhenwu is worshipped, with two generals of turtles and snakes stepping on his feet, and on both sides are the gods of the twelve zodiac animals.

After seeing the three temples, it is better to go for a walk on the Yunqi Plank Road, otherwise the reputation of "Gaochun Green Lung" will be wasted. The Yunqi Plank Road has a total length of 1.5 kilometers and is built on Dayou Mountain and Xiaoyou Mountain. It is like a silk scarf surrounding Dayou Mountain. If there is fog in the mountains, walking on the plank road is like perching in the clouds, so it is called the "Yunqi Plank Road".

Nowadays, relying on this plank road, a series of ecological guidance systems have also been established. It can allow tourists who come here to get in touch with nature and understand nature more closely, and experience a different forest journey.

In fact, another important part of Youzishan is the Santiaolong Ecological Leisure Resort. It consists of forests, bamboo gardens, orchards, tea gardens, reservoirs and other ecological areas. It is an important part of the urban green lung. Because when viewed from a high altitude, it looks like three dragons circling, so it takes its homophonic tone to call it "Three Ridges".

The most important attraction here is Chunqing Tea Garden, which covers an area of 4000 acres and is the only state-owned tea farm in Gaochun District. This place is famous not only because of the tea here, but also because it once appeared in "In the Name of the People". Secretary Dakang once inspected it here because many tourists came here.

【Tips】

(1) Address: No. 6 Huanshan Road, Youzi Mountain, Dongba Town, Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province;

(2) Transportation: Take Gaochun No. 209 Bus to Youzishan Station and walk 1300 meters to Youzishan Scenic Area in Gaochun County, Nanjing City;

(3) Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 ;

(4) Tickets are free.

[Yaxi Slow City-Go to a Golden Flower Festival]

Nanjing Gaochun Yaxi International Slow City is located in the northeast of Gaochun District, Nanjing City, located at the eastern foot of Youzi Mountain, very close. This is an agricultural comprehensive tourism and sightseeing attraction integrating sightseeing, leisure, entertainment and vacation, and ecological agriculture due to hilly ecological resources. "Traffic along the paths, chickens and dogs hear each other" is an ordinary fragment of rural life between the six administrative villages of Yaxi Mancheng. Sometimes it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, sometimes it passes through forests and crosses mountains. Along the way, it is lush, with birds singing and flowers fragrance, showing the pastoral scenery and the fun of mountains and forests.

"The peach leaves are blue in the wild wind in the garden, and the cauliflower are yellow in spring dew in the ridge." Spring in Gaochun belongs to the golden flower, which is also known as rapeseed flowers. Every March, more than 200,000 acres of high-quality rapeseed flower fields across the mountains and plains will open up one after another. The lingering golden color renders the entire Slow City. Visitors come here all stop and appreciate it, attracting dancing butterflies and bees., become interesting in flowers.

The entire flowering period will last until the end of April and the beginning of May, complementing tea gardens, bamboo forests, and wheat fields. If you are free during this Qingming Festival holiday, why not come here to meet the golden flowers.

In addition to the golden flowers, the canopy skating here is also open. It has a total length of more than 500 meters and a drop of as high as 18 meters. The entire slide is made of high-transparent glass, which is very exciting. And you don't have to worry about getting wet at all. You will be put on a fully sealed raincoat, allowing you to feel the magical style of nature from top to bottom, rushing down with speed and passion.

Wenfeng Tower is the highest point of Yaxi Mancheng. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty and was later destroyed in the war. In October 2012, it was restored on its original site. Wenfeng Tower is a seven-level pavilion style in all directions, imitating the Tang Dynasty style. The tower body is handed down layer by layer, with high eaves, dragons and beasts, and wind chimes hanging with horns. The tower echoes the most beautiful skyline of Mancheng, tall and straight, yet light and elegant.

If you happen to have a sunset or sunrise, go up the steps, lean on the fence and look into the distance, and see the beautiful scenery of the city. It is beautiful here.

【Tips】

(1) Address: No. 6 Ecological Road, Yaxi Town, Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province.

(2) Opening hours: 09:00-17:00. (There is a farmhouse in Dashan Village to stay in)

(3) Ticket price: Free, additional charges will be required for small items.

[Ceramic Museum]

When it comes to ceramics, many people's first reaction is Jingdezhen, but Gaochun is also a place that produces ceramics. The ceramics here have won a lot of praise for their superb handicrafts, and have even appeared in many conference dinners in the country. The workmanship is exquisite and the materials are luxurious, making it a model of ceramics.

This ceramics museum records the entire process of Gaochun ceramics from scratch. It is not so much a museum as an art museum. The spiral stairs and layout here are so suitable for taking photos, and the girls can look absolutely beautiful here.

You must visit the exhibition hall on the second floor. The highest level of Gaochun ceramics is displayed here. They are all ceramic tableware customized for various high-end meetings. The price of a single set is more than 30,000 yuan, which cannot be described as luxurious.

In addition to appreciating a variety of ceramics, there is also the opportunity to try making one of your own. In the factory behind, you can experience each step of ceramic processing firsthand, and you can also make your own pottery and take it back.

【Tips】

(1) Address: No. 8 Jingshan Road, Economic Development Zone, Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province;

(2) Opening hours: 09:00-17:00;

(3) Ticket price: 40 yuan.

[Gucheng Lake Slow City-mistakenly entering the depths of tulips]

Gucheng Lake is located in the southern part of Gaochun District, also known as Xiaonan Lake. Historically, it was part of the ancient Danyang Lake along with Shijiu Lake. There is a slow city of Gucheng Lake here. In March, tulips are in full bloom. The garden here is full of tulips waiting for our arrival.

Gucheng Lake Water Slow City is a vacation and leisure experience destination integrating science education, ecological sightseeing, water entertainment, water sports, and leisure vacations. There are many attractions and projects that can be played in it, and it will take a day to experience it carefully.

Taking a sightseeing bus from the scenic area all the way, we arrived at the place where tulips were in full bloom. As soon as they got off the bus, everyone was amazed by the blooming tulips all over the ground, coupled with pink windmills. It was like entering a fairy tale world, as if they had instantly traveled from a metropolis full of high-rise buildings to the fields and countryside of the Netherlands.

Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy when we came, and there was no sun, but it also had a different aesthetic feeling. It was also the same weather when I went to the Netherlands to see tulips. It was somewhat similar. It reminded me of the scene at that time. It seemed that for a while, I really thought I dreamed of returning to the Netherlands and kissing tulips.

The tulips here come in many colors, and they are planted according to various colors. They are scattered and overwhelmed. Those who like to take photos must not miss this place. Who can refuse the kind invitation of beautiful flowers?

Another thing you can't miss in Shuiman City is the zoo here. This can be the Hongshan Zoo Gaochun Branch of the Internet celebrity Zoo. The most famous one here is the Internet celebrity flamingos. No tourist can refuse their charming charm from their gorgeous feathers.

My favorite one is the parrot house. The entire parrot museum creates a miniature scene of a tropical rainforest, where the parrots inside can soar freely. The most common one is the macaw, and if you like it, the parrot will fly to your side and interact with you. It is very cute to dance with you.

Very large swan pond, where many species of birds are raised. Spring is here, and many new babies are born in Swan Lake. The ugly duckling in the fairy tale is really displayed in front of your eyes. Such an ugly and innocent expression really melts my heart.

【Tips】

(1) Address: Gucheng Lake Water Slow City, No. 9 Yinghu Road, Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province;

(2) How to get there: Take Gaochunyou No. 2 Bus to Gucheng Lake Slow City (International Fishing Center) Station and walk 310 meters;

(3) Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 ;

(4) Tickets: 80 yuan.

(5) Others: Sightseeing bus is 10 yuan per person.

[Gaochun Old Street--The No. 1 Ancient Street in Jinling]

If you are tired of visiting Confucius Temple and Laomen East in Nanjing, why not follow me to Gaochun Old Street. Gaochun Old Street is a splendid pearl of ancient streets in China. It is one of the relatively well-preserved ancient streets of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Jiangsu Province. It has also become one of the important life scenes of Gaochun people today.

Gaochun Old Street is located in the west of Gucheng Lake in the vast expanse of smoke, in the gurgling Guanxi River Henan Province. It has many nicknames such as "Zhengyi Street","Zhongshan Street", and "Heping Street". It is commonly known among people as "Yizi Street". The street runs from east to west. The original total length was nearly 1000 meters, but now it is 505 meters well preserved.

The shops and residential houses of the Ming and Qing Dynasties still exist on Gaochun Old Street. The cultural atmosphere of ancient colors and ancient charm is extremely strong. The scenic spots can be roughly divided into: Yijing (Qianlong Ancient Well), Yimiao (Guanwang Temple), Yiting (Yangting), Yitang (Christian Church), Yiyuan (Panchi Park), Yichuan (Gucheng Lake Classical Tour Boat), Second Hall (Gaochun Folk Museum, Gaochun Folk Performance Hall), Second Site (former site of the headquarters of the First Detachment of the New Fourth Army, former site of the New Fourth Army Office in Gaochun);

Walking into the old street, there are rows of shops and houses on both sides of the street, and the street is paved with igneous rock, presenting the simple and profound artistic conception of "there are people in the deep alley". It is unique to the ancient charm of "two people touching the shop and the deep alley is lined with a line of sky". With mottled brick walls, long alleys, squeaking wooden doors, and pedestrians in twos and threes on the street, time seems to have stopped here. Wherever you can see and hear, it seems to be a lively and fragrant Gaochun Old Street "Riverside Picture" during Qingming Festival!

There are now 314 shops in the old street, all of which are building-style double-layer brick-and-wood structures and united-type shops. They are on two floors, with eaves, arches, stacks, walls, cross girders, and windows. They are simple and simple in style and unique in shape. Most of them were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The shape not only has the style of Anhui Hui style but also has a distinctive local traditional style.

Everyone must go to the Guanwang Temple for a walk and put on a Han costume to come here to take photos. It's very exciting.

There are also many delicacies on the old street. Hairy crabs, rice wine, crab yellow soup dumplings, steamed cakes, green dumplings, etc. are all unique characteristics of the old street. From the street to the alley, there is absolutely no duplicate food.

【Tips】

(1) Address: Gaochun Old Street, Gaochun District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province;

(2) Transportation: Take Nanjing Gaochun Road 105 Ring 2 Bus to Jiangongju Station and walk 320 meters to Gaochun Old Street;

(3) Opening hours: all day;

(4) Tickets: Free.

[About Accommodation]

Nanjing Gaochun has a wide choice of hotels and B & Bs, a good environment, and the prices are not very expensive. I came here to stay at Nanjing Gucheng Bay New Century Resort, a secluded paradise. I came here for everyone to try it not long after it opened.

The simple and elegant appearance, with wood as the main structural material, is simple and low-key without losing the sense of design, noble, elegant and connotation. The hotel is fully equipped with outdoor swimming pool, gym, restaurant, etc. The check-in space and the public space are separated by access cards to provide guests with relative privacy and security without appearing very noisy.

The room we stayed in had a balcony and we could see an artificial lake as soon as we looked out, which was a delight. The overall interior design also follows the overall wooden minimalist style. Although the layout is not complicated, the sense of advanced quality still makes people very satisfied with the room in front of them.

I used my favorite Re for toiletries, and I also carefully prepared a comfortable bathrobe (and children's bathrobe). The spacious round bathtub occupies the best viewing position, so it is easy to take a bath and enjoy the scenery.

The welcome snacks and fruits provided by the hotel are very delicious. Even breakfast is delivered to the room on time as requested by the guests. It is so pleasant to sit on the balcony and eat breakfast and watch the scenery.

[Conclusion]

Have you thought about where to go during this Qingming Festival and May Day holiday? Why don't we go on a date with Chun Chun in Gaochun?