Jinshan · Jiaoshan · Beigushan Scenic Area is located in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province. Collectively known as "Zhenjiang Three Hills", all of them are national 5A-level tourist attractions and famous scenic spots along the Yangtze River. The scenic area is linked by the Yangtze River, connecting Jinshan, Jiaoshan, Beigushan and their surrounding landscapes, with a total area of about 4.3 square kilometers. Among them, Jinshan covers an area of about 0.22 square kilometers with an altitude of 43.7 meters; Jiaoshan covers about 0.38 square kilometers with an altitude of 71.0 meters, being the only island mountain in the Yangtze River; Beigushan covers about 0.5 square kilometers with an altitude of 55.2 meters. The scenic area features the in-depth integration of "mountains, water, temples and history". It has not only natural landscapes where mountains and water depend on each other, but also cultural landscapes such as ancient temples with a thousand years of history and historical relics. It is especially famous for the Three Kingdoms culture and Buddhist culture of "Jingkou Three Hills", and is the core area showcasing Zhenjiang's characteristic of "urban mountains and forests".
History and Culture
Jinshan has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It is said that during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the eminent monk Fahai built a temple here, which was the origin of Jinshan Temple. Since the Tang Dynasty, Jinshan has become a Buddhist sacred place, and literati such as Su Shi and Lu You have left poems here. The legend of "The White Snake Floods Jinshan" in The Legend of the White Snake has made Jinshan widely known. The temple retains attractions related to the legend, such as Fahai Cave and White Dragon Cave.
Jiaoshan got its name because Jiao Guang, a hermit in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, lived in seclusion here. Literati and poets of all dynasties came in large numbers. There are more than 300 existing cliff inscriptions, among which the works of famous calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing and Mi Fu are particularly precious, so it is known as "the mountain of calligraphy". During the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiaoshan was a front line against the Jin army, and artillery batteries were set up to resist the Jin soldiers. The existing ancient artillery battery site is a national key cultural relics protection unit.
Beigushan is an important birthplace of the Three Kingdoms culture. It is said that Liu Bei married Sun Shangxiang here, and Sun Quan and Zhou Yu once plotted the "Beauty Scheme" here. The Ganlu Temple on the mountain was built in the Three Kingdoms period. Although it has been rebuilt many times, it still retains relics related to the Three Kingdoms, such as the Sword Testing Stone and the Ruthless Stone. Xin Qiji's Yongyule · Nostalgia at Beigu Pavilion in Jingkou has made the historical heritage of Beigushan deeply rooted in people's hearts, becoming a place for literati of all dynasties to pay tribute to the past.
Main Attractions
Jinshan Scenic Area
Jinshan Scenic Area centers on Jinshan Temple. Although the mountain is small, the temple buildings are built against the mountain, and the architectural pattern of "the mountain wrapping the temple" is unique. Jinshan Temple was built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a total area of about 100,000 square meters. The main buildings include the Mahavira Hall, the Scripture Repository and the Cishou Pagoda. The Cishou Pagoda is 36 meters high with 7 floors. Climbing the pagoda, you can overlook the panoramic view of the Yangtze River and Zhenjiang urban area. There are also supporting landscapes such as Jinshan Lake and the White Snake Love Culture Park in the scenic area. Among them, the White Snake Love Culture Park covers an area of about 100,000 square meters, with The Legend of the White Snake as the theme, reproducing the classic scenes in the legend.
Jiaoshan Scenic Area
Jiaoshan Scenic Area is characterized by "mountains surrounding water and ancient temple chants". To reach the island, you need to take a ferry (one-way ticket 20 yuan per person). The Dinghui Temple on the mountain was built in the Eastern Han Dynasty and is a famous ancient temple in the south of the Yangtze River. The existing buildings such as the Mahavira Hall and the Heavenly King Hall cover an area of about 38,000 square meters. The Jiaoshan Stele Forest Museum houses more than 400 steles of past dynasties, among which Epitaph for a Buried Crane is known as "the ancestor of large characters" and is a treasure of calligraphy art. In addition, the Jiaoshan Ancient Artillery Battery Site is located at the east foot of the mountain. It was built in the Song Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. There are 8 existing artillery positions, which are important physical materials for studying China's modern military history.
Beigushan Scenic Area
Beigushan Scenic Area is divided into the front peak, the middle peak and the back peak, with the back peak as the core of the scenic area, at an altitude of 55.2 meters. Ganlu Temple is located on the top of the back peak. The existing buildings were rebuilt in the late Qing Dynasty, consisting of the main hall, the Laojun Hall and the Guanyin Hall, covering an area of about 6,000 square meters. The Duojing Pavilion next to the temple was built in the Tang Dynasty, which is an excellent place to watch the scenery of the Yangtze River and is known as "the best river and mountain in the world". The Beigu Pavilion (Sacrifice to the River Pavilion) in the scenic area is where Xin Qiji wrote his poems. Climbing the pavilion and looking into the distance, you can see all the scenery of the Yangtze River, and feelings of nostalgia arise spontaneously.
Cuisine
Zhenjiang Pot Cover Noodles
Zhenjiang Pot Cover Noodles are a local iconic snack, which can be tasted in noodle restaurants around the Three Hills Scenic Area (such as "Zhennan Noodle Restaurant" and "Shao Shunxing"). Its characteristic is that a small pot cover is put into the pot when cooking the noodles to make the noodles more chewy. It is accompanied by seasonings such as soy sauce, lard and shrimp seeds, and then added with toppings such as cured meat, sausage and pig liver. A bowl of Pot Cover Noodles costs about 10-25 yuan, which is a must-try food for tourists to experience Zhenjiang flavor.
Zhenjiang Cured Meat
Zhenjiang Cured Meat, also known as "Crystal Cured Hoof", is made from pig front hooves through pickling, blanching, braising and other processes. The meat is tender, with white skin and red meat, crystal clear, and is usually eaten with shredded ginger and vinegar. It can be tasted in time-honored restaurants near Jinshan and Beigushan (such as "Yanchun Restaurant"), with a portion costing about 30-50 yuan. It is often served as breakfast with Pot Cover Noodles and is known as one of the "Three Wonders of Zhenjiang" ("Vinegar never goes bad, cured meat is not treated as a dish, and a pot cover is boiled in the noodle pot").
Jiaoshan Hilsa Herring
The Yangtze River waters around Jiaoshan are rich in hilsa herring. The best time to eat it is from April to June every year. The meat is tender, and the scales are rich in fat. The traditional way is to steam it to retain the original flavor. It can be tasted in river fresh restaurants near Jiaoshan Ferry (such as "Jiangyue Building"). Due to its scarce output, the price is relatively high, about 200-400 yuan per 500 grams, and it is a seasonal delicacy.
Tickets
The ticket for Jinshan Scenic Area is 50 yuan per person, the ticket for Jiaoshan Scenic Area is 50 yuan per person, and the ticket for Beigushan Scenic Area is 30 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public accounts "镇江市金山风景区", "镇江市焦山风景区" and "镇江市北固山景区" to get the latest news of the corresponding scenic areas or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
Jinshan Scenic Area: 8:00-17:00 daily (admission stops at 16:30), extended to 17:30 in summer (June-August) (admission stops at 17:00); Jiaoshan Scenic Area: 8:00-17:00 daily (admission stops at 16:30, the last ferry departs from the shore to Jiaoshan at 16:30), extended to 17:30 in summer; Beigushan Scenic Area: 8:00-17:00 daily (admission stops at 16:30), extended to 17:30 in summer. In winter (December-February), the opening hours of all scenic areas are shortened by 30 minutes, from 8:30 to 16:30 (admission stops at 16:00).
Tour Routes
One-Day Essence Tour of the Three Hills
Arrive at Jinshan Scenic Area at 8:30 a.m., visit Jinshan Temple, Cishou Pagoda and White Snake Love Culture Park, taking about 2 hours; go to Beigushan Scenic Area at 10:30, climb the back peak to visit Ganlu Temple, Duojing Pavilion and Beigu Pavilion, and experience the Three Kingdoms culture, taking about 1.5 hours; have lunch at a restaurant near Beigushan at 12:00, tasting Pot Cover Noodles and cured meat; go to Jiaoshan Scenic Area at 13:30 p.m., take a ferry to the island, visit Dinghui Temple, Jiaoshan Stele Forest and ancient artillery battery, taking about 2.5 hours; return to the shore by boat at 16:00 and end the trip. This route is suitable for tourists with limited time, allowing them to experience the core landscapes of the Three Hills intensively.
Two-Day In-Depth Tour of the Three Hills
Day 1: Visit Jinshan Scenic Area in the morning (3 hours), focusing on Jinshan Temple and the surrounding cultural park; go to Jiaoshan Scenic Area in the afternoon (3.5 hours), enjoy the stele forest inscriptions and ancient artillery battery in detail, and you can watch the sunset over the Yangtze River at Jiaoshan Ferry in the evening; stay in a hotel in Zhenjiang urban area that night. Day 2: Visit Beigushan Scenic Area in the morning (2 hours), experience the Three Kingdoms relics and poetry culture; in the afternoon, you can choose to visit the nearby Xijin Ferry Ancient Street (free of charge) to experience the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties and taste special snacks, and end the trip before 16:00. This route is suitable for history and culture lovers, enabling them to appreciate the heritage of the Three Hills more deeply.
Transportation
- Bus: Many bus routes in Zhenjiang can reach the Three Hills Scenic Area. Jinshan Scenic Area can be reached by taking bus No. 2, 8 or 17 to "Jinshan Park Station" and walking for about 5 minutes; Jiaoshan Scenic Area can be reached by taking bus No. 104 or 133 to "Jiaoshan Scenic Area Station"; Beigushan Scenic Area can be reached by taking bus No. 4, 104 or 135 to "Beigushan Park Station". The bus fare is 1-2 yuan per person, and the operating hours are 6:00-22:00.
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanjing, drive along G42 Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway to Zhenjiang Exit, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours; starting from Shanghai, drive along G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway and transfer to G42, with a driving time of about 2.5 hours. The parking fee of Jinshan Scenic Area parking lot is 5 yuan per hour, that of Jiaoshan Scenic Area parking lot is 10 yuan per time, and that of Beigushan Scenic Area parking lot is 8 yuan per time.
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail to Zhenjiang Station or Zhenjiang South Station. Zhenjiang Station is about 3 kilometers away from Jinshan Scenic Area, and you can take a taxi (about 10 yuan) or bus No. 2 to reach it directly; Zhenjiang South Station is about 10 kilometers away from the scenic area, and you can take a taxi (about 25 yuan) or take bus No. 133 and transfer to other routes.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Jinshan Temple: The core of Jinshan Scenic Area, with the architectural wonder of "the mountain wrapping the temple". The Cishou Pagoda in the temple allows you to overlook the Yangtze River. Fahai Cave and White Dragon Cave related to the legend of "The White Snake Floods Jinshan" are must-visit places.
- Jiaoshan Stele Forest: It houses more than 300 cliff inscriptions and over 400 steles, among which Epitaph for a Buried Crane is the most precious, being a sacred place for calligraphy lovers.
- Ganlu Temple (Beigushan): A core attraction of the Three Kingdoms culture. The Sword Testing Stone, the Ruthless Stone and other relics in the temple carry the legend of Liu Bei marrying Sun Shangxiang. Duojing Pavilion allows you to enjoy the magnificent scenery like a "picture of the Yangtze River stretching for thousands of miles".
- Jiaoshan Ancient Artillery Battery: A well-preserved Qing Dynasty artillery battery site along the Yangtze River. The 8 artillery positions witnessed historical events such as the resistance against the Jin and British armies, and have important historical value.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel seasons are spring and autumn (March-May, September-November), with pleasant weather. In spring, Jinshan and Jiaoshan are covered with lush vegetation, and in autumn, Beigushan offers a wide view when climbing high.
- The distance between the Three Hills is relatively close (Jinshan is about 3 kilometers away from Beigushan, and Beigushan is about 5 kilometers away from Jiaoshan). It is recommended to take a taxi or drive to visit them in a series. The taxi fare is about 10-15 yuan per trip.
- Jiaoshan requires taking a ferry to the island. It is recommended to reserve enough time to avoid missing the last return ferry (16:30 in winter, 17:30 in summer).
- To taste Zhenjiang cuisine, you can go to Xijin Ferry Ancient Street, which is about 1 kilometer away from Beigushan. It gathers special foods such as Pot Cover Noodles, cured meat and Zhenjiang vinegar, with a per capita consumption of 50-80 yuan.
- If you are interested in calligraphy, it is recommended to hire a guide (50 yuan per time) for Jiaoshan Stele Forest, so that you can have an in-depth understanding of the historical background and artistic value of the inscriptions.
Notes
- Loud noises are prohibited in temples such as Jinshan Temple and Dinghui Temple. You need to respect religious customs, take off your hat when entering the main hall, and do not touch the Buddha statues at will.
- Jiaoshan Ferry is a small boat, which may be suspended in case of bad weather such as strong winds and heavy fog. It is recommended to check the weather forecast or consult the scenic area before traveling.
- Some sections of the back peak of Beigushan are steep. When visiting, pay attention to safety, wear non-slip sports shoes, and the elderly are recommended to be accompanied by their families.
- For special products such as Zhenjiang vinegar sold in the scenic area, it is recommended to buy them in regular stores to avoid low-quality products at low prices.
- There are many mosquitoes along the Yangtze River in summer. It is recommended to bring mosquito repellent; the wind on the river is strong in winter, so pay attention to wind protection and keep warm.
- There are cultural and creative stores in each scenic area, where you can buy souvenirs related to the Three Kingdoms culture and Buddhist culture, with prices ranging from 20 yuan to 200 yuan.