As the only remaining imperial garden south of the Yangtze River, Xuanwu Lake is known as the “Pearl of Jinling (present-day Nanjing).” It is the best spot in Nanjing’s urban area to watch the sunset blending into the city skyline. Boating on Xuanwu Lake is another way to appreciate the lake’s beauty, like entering a picturesque scroll painting. Xuanwu Lake is also the “birds’ living room” of the city, where one can observe migrating birds and other avian wonders.

What a great place to walk around and just relax near the water and greenery. Flowers everywhere. I went there on a public holiday and it was quite crowded, but even so, after walking around for some time, I found a lovely place to sit down and read among the trees. So nice and relaxing.

Perfect day for friends or family. The lake is surrounded by the city walls, which can be accessed at various pints along the way, for a small fee. The lakeside is really well kept and lots of people enjoying different activities. Boats are available to hire etc and there are snack options within the park area. the wall itself can be a bit uneven to walk around so consider your footwear.