Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum belongs to one of the large scenic spots in Zhongshan Scenic Area, and it is also one of the oldest places in the scenic area, which is worth visiting in depth. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the joint burial mausoleum of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, located at the southern foot of Zhongshan Mountain, Dulong Fuwan Everest, is one of the largest imperial mausoleums in ancient China, its shape has also influenced such as the Ming and Qing Dynasty Imperial Tombs such as the Ming Tombs in Beijing, and it is also the only scenic spot in Nanjing that is listed in the world cultural heritage.

Taking the Ming Tomb as the starting point for visiting Zhongshan is the most convenient choice. From the subway Xiamafang Station, walk to the Xiamafang Ruins Park to start the tour, and then enter the scenic spot from the Dajinmen, passing through various scenic spots such as Shinto, Jinshui Bridge, and Ming Tower.

After more than 600 years of vicissitudes, only the last part of the cemetery remains, mainly including the mausoleum Shinto and the main building. The Shinto Road is composed of "Stone Elephant Road" and "Weng Zhong Road", and there are six kinds of stone beasts arranged on the side of the road: lions, pigs, camels, elephants, unicorns, and horses, and there are eight stone statues of civil and military officials, which stand along the terrain trend, meandering, and the maple trees in the middle of the road shade the sun, and occasionally the dappled sunlight penetrates the leaves and shines on the stone statues. The stone statues on the Shinto route are cracked or moss-covered on the surface, but the overall shape is relatively intact, allowing visitors to intersect with the history of more than 600 years ago.

The mausoleum palace of the three-entry courtyard is the main building of the Ming Filial Piety Mausoleum, imitating the order of respect and humility of the mausoleum sacrificial rites, according to the traditional central axis, including the civil and military square gate, the enjoyment hall, the square city, the Ming building, the treasure roof, the red wall and yellow tile of the palace gate. There is no vulgar and deliberate antique trend, in the lush forest garden, you can feel the sense of simplicity and solemnity when you walk in it. In fact, many of the original objects of the Ming Dynasty have been burned, and the highest point of the Ming Tower is only the stone pedestal, and the main hall on the pedestal is restored and built in the later period. However, the stone brick pedestal left by the Ming Tower is enough to shock people's hearts, and the black traces left by the fire, the stalactites formed by perennial water droplets, and the light and shade in the tunnels of the Ming Tower, all give people a sense of time travel.

The whole Ming Filial Piety Mausoleum Scenic Area is not only the cemetery part, but also includes Meihua Mountain, Zixia Lake, Sun Quan's Tomb, Yan Zhenqing Stele Forest and other scenic spots, if you have enough time, you can visit together. There are more than 30,000 plum blossoms planted in Meihua Mountain, covering an area of more than 1,500 acres, there are more than 200 varieties of plum blossoms, and Shanghai Dianshan Lake Plum Garden, Wuxi Plum Garden and Wuhan East Lake Plum Garden are called China's four major plum gardens, known as "the first plum mountain in the world". Here is the place to enjoy the local flowers in Nanjing, the spring season is full of mountains and flowers, the colors are layered, and there are still plum blossoms in winter, which is simple and elegant. Zixia Lake, on the other hand, is surrounded by greenways, which is more suitable for walking or enjoying the cool weather, and the lake and mountains are more tranquil.

Tips for Visiting:

Tickets: 70 yuan/person for separate tickets, 100 yuan/person for packages

Opening hours: March to November: 6:30-18:30, December to February: 7:00-:30

The best time to visit: Ming Xiaoling has red plums in spring, wax plums in winter, ginkgo biloba in autumn, and the scenery of the four seasons is different.