A Trip to Lianyungang and a Date with My Bestie
In early November, on a whim, I decided to go on a trip with my bestie. Our main destination was Nanjing. However, we especially wanted to visit Shuangshan Island in Lianyungang. We finally decided to take the high-speed train to Lianyungang first. After spending a day there, we drove straight to Nanjing and stayed for four more days.
Before setting off, we booked a car at the Yihai Car Rental store at Lianyungang High-Speed Rail Station. The car was super, super new. Lianyungang probably isn’t a major tourist city, and since it wasn’t a holiday, there weren’t many people renting cars. The staff were very professional and had a great attitude. They even politely reminded us to check the car’s condition—really excellent service overall.
Lianyungang Chapter
After arriving in Lianyungang, we picked up the car and took a stroll around the city before heading to the hotel. After a short rest, we decided to start a self-driving island tour on Shuangshan Island. You can drive on Shuangshan Island, but the car needs to be ferried onto the island. Personally, I think you must drive around Shuangshan Island at least once—it’s truly beautiful!
The island tour started from the ferry dock on Shuangshan Island’s Slow Street. This area is adjacent to the North Wharf and is home to unique guesthouses, local restaurants, and creative shops. It’s worth stopping here to taste local delicacies, recharge, and soak in the town’s authentic atmosphere. Setting off on the island route, we soon reached Dabodun Ecological Wetland Park. Located at the island’s northeast corner, it’s lush with vegetation and a bird lover’s paradise.
Strolling along the waterside boardwalk, quietly admiring the towering dawn redwoods and swaying reeds, occasionally spotting birds flying by, you can experience the tranquil beauty of the wetland ecosystem. Continuing on, the solemn Victory Crossing Park is an important red landmark on the island, inspiring respect and remembrance of the past. Next, we visited Laowei Hong Village, the only nationally recognized beautiful red village pilot in Suzhou, where you can immerse yourself in the unique charm of red culture.
Driving to the northwest side of Shuangshan Island, you’ll find the scenic Haitang Bay. With the autumn breeze blowing, standing at Haitang Bay and looking across the river at the magnificent Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge, the river breeze fills you with peace and joy. The journey’s perfect ending is the Pearl Lighthouse, a new island landmark shaped like a sailing riverboat.
Climbing the observation platform, the view opens up dramatically: beneath you is the lush ecological treasure island, and in the distance flows the endless Yangtze River. The expansive river view and the sunset glow together paint a magnificent picture.
After the Shuangshan Island self-driving tour, the island offers various leisure options to make the end of your trip just as wonderful. The Shuangshan Golf Course is well-equipped and pleasant, an ideal place to experience golf. On the wide green fields, you can enjoy swinging the club, and the course has rest areas and restaurants to recharge and enjoy a moment of tranquility.
As night falls, you can head to Jingbo Bay Starry Sky Camp. The camp has tents and cabins, perfect for stargazing. Surrounded by woods and open lawns, the atmosphere is peaceful, and you can enjoy bonfires and barbecues, adding fun to the night.
The warm winter sun is the golden season for cycling. Hop on a bike and embrace Shuangshan Island’s vast river breeze, rich ecology, and red heritage. Explore the charm of Shuangshan Xiangshan in the most comfortable way, letting your wheels measure the beauty of winter and gain a refreshing and unforgettable journey.
First, I want to thank my “spur of the moment” decision for giving me the chance to experience autumn in Nanjing! Even though it was crowded, looking up at the full autumn colors was very satisfying!
Nanjing Chapter
We stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel in Nanjing. The location is excellent, the rooms are clean, and the service is great! If your budget allows, I recommend the lake view or skyline rooms, but I booked the cheapest city view room.
Lunch: Xie Yuanwai. This restaurant is very close to the hotel, just a few minutes’ walk! I ate here three times in four days, haha! Today I ordered crab roe noodles, a huge portion and very delicious! After leaving the station, walking toward the city gate, just past the second gate, you’ll see ginkgo trees everywhere! When I went, two trees were fully yellow, and some were yellow-green, very beautiful!
Right at the entrance, I saw several super cute cats! Walking a bit further, after seeing the lake, turn left. The willow trees by the lake and the big white geese in the water create a poetic scene! Continuing forward, you’ll reach the area near the Calligraphy and Painting Institute, where the popular Chinese tallow tree is located! When I went, about half the leaves had fallen, but the leaves were red, still very picturesque! After walking around, I collected many leaves, and seeing the various colors was a very special experience!
Then we drove to the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. For dinner, we chose Sun’s Plum Blossom Cake - Old Drum Tower Soup Dumplings. I didn’t expect it to be an old establishment! When I arrived, only one red bean paste flavor and two fruit flavors were left, so I decisively chose the red bean paste! It wasn’t too sweet, the red bean paste was warm, and I got so excited I burned my mouth on the first bite, haha! Highly recommended! Delicious!
But after eating, I still wasn’t very full, so I went next door to Old Drum Tower Soup Dumplings and tried two new pine nut roast duck shumai. Surprisingly, they were quite tasty, with real roast duck slices inside!
Day 3: Experiencing the Beauty of Nanjing’s Temples
While driving, there was a section of plane tree avenue with fewer people. If you have the energy, try walking into the scenic area; the scenery along the way is also very nice! I had some oden at the entrance before entering the scenic area. I took a small path to the left and soon saw a red wall gate with stunning light and shadow—I really liked it! Walking a bit further, I saw the Ming Dynasty architecture of the Beamless Hall. The ginkgo trees at the entrance were truly beautiful, carrying the weight and vicissitudes of history!
Entering the Beamless Hall, I was amazed by the ancient architectural craftsmanship, and when I saw Sun Yat-sen’s will, tears suddenly fell. The revolutionary predecessors sacrificed so much for the happiness and peace we enjoy today. Exiting the Beamless Hall, in front of me was the Osmanthus King of Jinling, but unfortunately, the osmanthus had all withered by the time I came! Turning right, I reached Linggu Temple. In front of Linggu Temple stands a century-old ginkgo tree, really tall, already yellow. I lingered for a long time but couldn’t capture its beauty in photos!
Turning back to the main path, I headed toward Linggu Pagoda. First, I arrived at Songfeng Pavilion. The legendary rainbow tree had mostly withered, a pity I didn’t see the most beautiful Songfeng Pavilion! Walking further, I reached Linggu Pagoda. I climbed to the third floor, and the view was quite nice! I saw photos of people who climbed to the top floor and captured the Linggu scenic area—truly breathtaking! After coming out, I returned the same way but made a detour to Linggu Deep Pine, right next to Linggu Temple, which I hadn’t visited earlier.
On the way back, by the lake, there were a few small maple trees, and the sunlight felt very bright! Then I headed to Pilu Temple. There were so many people photographing the ginkgo trees, but it was really beautiful! The yellow ginkgo, white Bodhisattva statues, and red Wanfo Tower created a truly pure and sacred atmosphere! Along the way, there were many small Kṣitigarbha statues that were especially cute! Entering Wanfo Tower, I went down to the basement to count the Arhats!