Plan at a glance
Choose between two areas and two styles of visit
Nanshan Scenic Area has two relatively independent visiting zones. The paid zone includes Zhaoyin, Bamboo Grove and Wenyuan, with cultural and historic stops such as Wenxin Pavilion, Pearl Lake, Reading Platform, Tiger Run Spring and the bamboo forest. The free northern zone centres on Riyue Lake and Nanshan Great Rift, also called “A Slit in the Sky”, and suits a short walk through wooded hills.
Allow 2–3 hours for the paid zone, usually entered through the north gate of Zhaoyin Scenic Area. The free zone takes about 1.5–2 hours and can be entered around Riyue Lake or Gaocong Temple; it is open all day. The entrances, ticket arrangements and routes are different, so decide first whether the day is mainly for historic sites or a free woodland walk.
Paid-zone ticket and opening hours
The reference ticket is CNY 40 in peak season and CNY 30 in low season, but the month boundaries are not specified here. The paid zone generally opens 07:30–17:30, with last entry at 16:00. The northern free zone does not require a ticket and is open all day.
The paid attractions have their own ticket arrangements, and this guide keeps the free and paid zones separate. A paid-zone ticket does not cover every entrance in the free northern area, and a free walk does not mean that Zhaoyin, Bamboo Grove and Wenyuan become part of the paid route without their own entry arrangement.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
View Visit Optionsvia Trip.comChoose your visit
Paid zone: Zhaoyin, Bamboo Grove and Wenyuan
Zhaoyin suits visitors interested in Zhenjiang's wooded hills, historic sites and literati culture. The “City Forest” archway, Wenxin Pavilion, Pearl Lake, Reading Platform and Tiger Run Spring form a coherent cultural route. Bird-out Pavilion is higher up and offers a city view, but reaching it requires slopes and stairs.
Bamboo Grove is a good choice for visitors who enjoy woodland walking and buildings set in nature; Wenyuan can be left for the later part of the route. The paid zone is about hills, pavilions and historical clues, with relatively little commercial activity. It suits a quiet walk rather than a sequence of commercial entertainment stops.
Free zone: Riyue Lake and Nanshan Great Rift
The free northern zone suits visitors who do not want to buy a ticket and only want a short, light hike. Use Riyue Lake as the starting point, walk towards Nanshan Great Rift, and then decide according to your energy whether to continue towards Gaocong Temple or explore the surrounding paths.
Nanshan Great Rift is a specific stop within a walk rather than a large canyon. Visitors who enjoy nature paths, photography and short outdoor activities are more likely to enjoy it. If you expect a major gorge or a long geological landscape, adjust your expectations to a small woodland attraction.
Build your day
A 2–3 hour paid-zone route
Enter through the north gate of Zhaoyin Scenic Area. Pass the “City Forest” archway and Wenxin Pavilion, then continue to Pearl Lake, Reading Platform and Tiger Run Spring. Follow the uphill path to Bird-out Pavilion for the high viewpoint, then descend past Listening to Orioles House and through the Bamboo Grove area. Finish in Wenyuan and leave according to the exit directions.
This route includes uphill and downhill sections, and the attractions are spread out. Spend longer at Wenxin Pavilion and Pearl Lake if you prefer architecture and water views. With average fitness, choose Bird-out Pavilion or Wenyuan according to the remaining time rather than rushing every stop just to complete the whole route.
A 1.5–2 hour free walking route
Navigate to the Riyue Lake entrance and follow the hill path towards Nanshan Great Rift. Stop near “A Slit in the Sky” for photographs, then continue towards Gaocong Temple if you still have the energy. Return to Riyue Lake by the same route, or continue along open nearby paths before leaving from the original entrance.
The free zone does not have one unified paid checkpoint, but the conditions on hill paths, informal paths and stone paths can vary. Families and visitors unfamiliar with the hills should return by the same route. If you continue, check your phone battery, water and return direction first, and do not leave the safe path to search for more remote sections.
Get there
By bus or car
Bus routes 17, 21 and 68 can take you to the area around the “Nanshan Scenic Area” stop. From there, walk to the paid-zone or free-zone entrance selected for the day. The stop name refers to the Nanshan area and does not mean that you are already at the Zhaoyin north gate or Riyue Lake, so confirm the exact entrance on your map before walking.
By car, search for “Nanshan Lvji Parking Lot” or “Nanshan Scenic Area North Gate”. Nanshan Lvji Parking Lot is suitable as a starting point for the free northern zone and parking is free. If you are visiting the paid Zhaoyin zone, confirm the direction of its north gate directly so that you do not add an unnecessary hill walk after parking.
Planning both areas
The paid and free zones are relatively independent, with hill paths between some points. On a first visit, complete one main route and leave the other zone for another day. If you combine them on the same day, calculate parking, entrance and walking time for each zone separately.
Know before you go
Shoes, water and hill paths
The paid zone includes stairs, slopes and longer walking sections, and the free zone may also involve uneven hill paths. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip and bring enough water and a small amount of food. Commercial supplies are limited, so do not assume you will be able to buy water on the way.
There are more mosquitoes in the woods during summer; bring repellent and reapply it as needed. Stone paths, wooden walkways and slopes become more slippery after rain. Keep a safe distance when taking photographs near Nanshan Great Rift, and do not climb rock faces or enter narrow gaps without clear access instructions.
Tickets, timing and food nearby
Budget CNY 30–40 for the paid zone according to the season; the seasonal month split is not specified here. The free northern zone is open all day, but all-day access does not make every informal path suitable for walking at night. If you plan to visit Zhaoyin, Bamboo Grove and Wenyuan, enter before the 16:00 last-entry time.
There are a few rest and food points inside Nanshan, but the choice is limited. Arrange lunch or dinner in the city after leaving if you need a full meal. The paid zone is best for historic sites and wooded hills, while the free zone is best for a short walk; both require room to adjust for weather and energy.