Travel in China
An imperial lake-and-garden park pressed against Nanjing's Ming city wall - five willow islets linked by arched bridges.
Xuanwu Lake is a 3.7-square-kilometre lake in the centre of Nanjing, pressed against the massive Ming city wall on its eastern shore. Five willow-covered islets - Huan, Ying, Liang, Cui and Ling - are connected by arched stone bridges, creating a garden-on-water that has been an imperial retreat since the Jin dynasty.
The lake's 15-kilometre shoreline is planted with cherry blossoms, lotus and wutong trees. In spring, the cherry blossom avenue on the western shore draws crowds; in summer, the lotus beds covering the shallows between the islets bloom; in autumn, the ginkgo avenues turn gold. The city wall rises directly from the water on the east side.
The lake is a favourite of Nanjing residents - rowboats in summer, black swans year-round, and the wall's massive ramparts reflected in the water at dawn. The Jiming Temple, visible on the lake's south-west shore, adds its pagoda to the panorama.
Highlights
The Five Islets
Willow-covered islands linked by arched stone bridges across the lake.
The Ming City Wall
The massive ramparts rising directly from the water on the east shore.
The Cherry Blossom Avenue
A lakeside promenade of cherry blossoms blooming each March-April.
The Lotus Beds
Summer lotus covering the shallows between the islets.
The Jiming Temple Pagoda
The pagoda visible on the south-west shore.
The Black Swans
Resident swans that glide among the rowboats.
Photo Gallery
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