Niushou Hill Travel Guide: Discover the Most Beautiful Zen Wonderland in Jinling

Niushou Hill in Nanjing is not only a famous Buddhist mountain in China, but also a cultural treasure of Nanjing. With its profound Buddhist cultural heritage, unique geological landscape, and stunning natural scenery, it attracts countless tourists to explore. This mountain, named for its twin peaks resembling the horns of an ox, is known as "Spring Niushou Hill" and is a great place for spring outings and sightseeing in Nanjing. If you want to experience the charm of Niushou Hill, follow this guide! Basic Information • Tickets: Purchase online one day in advance for CNY 145 per adult; CNY 160 if purchased on the same day. Discounted tickets are available for children, students, and seniors for CNY 80. • Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, last entry at 5:00 pm. • Recommended visiting time: 4-5 hours. For in-depth exploration, reserve a full day. Transportation Guide • By car: Navigate directly to the east or west gate of Niushou Hill Cultural Tourism Zone. The west gate is closer to Foding Palace. Parking fee is CNY 4/hour. • By taxi: Approx. 40 minutes from downtown Nanjing, costing around CNY 40. • Public transportation: ◦ Take Subway Line 1 to Tianlongsi Station. From Exit 2, transfer to Bus No. 712 or 755 to Niushou Hill Scenic Area Station (East Gate); or transfer to Bus No. 710 to Jiujiatang Station (West Gate). ◦ Take Subway Line S1 (Airport Line) to Hohai University · Focheng West Road Station. From Exit 2, it's a 15-minute taxi ride to the East Gate. Take Subway Line S3 (Ninghe Line) to Jiaxi Station. From Exit 2, it's a 15-minute taxi ride to the West Gate. Main Attractions • Foding Palace: The core attraction of Niushou Hill, consisting of three floors above ground and six floors underground. Its unique exterior resembles a "durian" or the Buddha's bun, glittering under the sunlight. The above-ground Zen Hall features a white jade reclining Buddha that slowly rotates 360 degrees, surrounded by two copper Wishing Trees and Bodhi trees, creating an ethereal Buddhist atmosphere. The underground section houses the Thousand Buddha Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddha Corridor, and the Sarira Dagoba. The centerpiece of the Thousand Buddha Hall is a magnificent Asoka Pagoda. The Sarira Dagoba enshrines the Buddha's parietal bone relic (however, the Sarira Dagoba is not open every day; check the official announcements). • Foding Pagoda: Nearly 88 meters high, with nine stories and four sides, it is a Tang Dynasty-style building. All floors except the ninth are accessible. Murals on each floor depict the origin and development of Buddhism. From the top, you can overlook Foding Palace and the beautiful scenery of Nanjing. • Foding Temple: Built in Tang Dynasty style, with a traditional central axis layout, it has seven halls, surrounded by monks' quarters, dining halls, and other buildings. The temple's architecture is grand and magnificent, a place for burning incense and praying for blessings. • Zen Hall: A 4-story high space, with a net height of 41.8 meters, 110 meters long, and 61 meters wide. The space covers over 6,000 square meters, is oval-shaped, and decorated in yellow, white, and gray tones. It's a great place to experience Buddhist culture. Recommended Routes • Relaxed route (suitable for seniors, children, or those with limited time): Enter from the West Gate → take the sightseeing bus directly to Foding Palace → visit the Zen Hall → go to the underground palace (Thousand Buddha Hall, Ten Thousand Buddha Corridor) → visit Foding Pagoda → exit from the West Gate. This route takes you directly to the core attractions, minimizing walking distance. • In-depth route (suitable for those with ample time and who want a comprehensive tour): Enter from the East Gate → Foding Forecourt (enjoy the natural landscape and small scenic spots) → Foding Temple (burn incense and pray, appreciate the beauty of Tang-style architecture) → Cliff Stone Carvings (experience the historical and cultural heritage) → Niutou Zen Culture Park → take the sightseeing bus to Foding Palace → visit the Zen Hall → underground palace (Thousand Buddha Hall, Ten Thousand Buddha Corridor, Sarira Dagoba) → Foding Pagoda (climb for panoramic views) → Zheng He Culture Park → exit from the West Gate. This route covers a wide range of attractions, allowing you to fully appreciate the natural scenery and historical culture of Niushou Hill. Photo Spots • In front of the Foding Palace pool: Take magnificent photos with the Foding Palace as the backdrop. • Foding Palace corridor: European-style corridor with excellent lighting effects, perfect for portraits. • Foding Palace corridor doorway: Capture unique photos with the Foding Pagoda in the background. • Fourth floor of the underground palace: A popular spot for filming trendy "opening door" videos. • Seventh floor of Foding Pagoda: Look down and capture the beautiful scenery of Niushou Hill. Things to Note • Purchase tickets in advance on the official WeChat account "Niushou Hill Cultural Tourism Zone" or other authorized platforms to avoid crowds during holidays and weekends. • There are performances inside Foding Palace, which are very impressive, but they are closed on Mondays. • The mountain is 248 meters high, and the entire walking route is about 3 kilometers. It is recommended to take the shuttle bus for seniors and children, CNY 10/ride. There are elevators available. • Take sun protection and moisturizing measures, and wear comfortable shoes. • Drones are prohibited in the scenic area. • Luggage storage is available at both the east and west gates. There are small lockers opposite Starbucks at the East Gate. Manual luggage storage is available at the second-floor reception desk for CNY 20/piece, with no time limit.