Attractions
Qinhuai River
As the largest river of Nanjing, Qinhuai River area is the cradle of the ancient Nanjing culture. As such, it is called "Nanjing's mother river". It is a must see for travelers to Nanjing.
Qinhuai River, originally called Huai River, is a branch of the Yangtze River. It is 110 kilometers (about 68 miles) in length and covers a drainage area of 2,631 square kilometers. It is the main channel in Nanjing area and is the ‘life blood’ of the city. It is said that the first emperor Qin Shi Huang in Qin Dynasty (221BC - 206 BC) beat away mountains and lead this river into the city, so it was named Qinhuai River from then on. With its distinctive scenery and cultural sights, Qinhuai River has been the most prosperous and elegant spot of the city for a long time. However, because of the various wars and battles fought within the area, ancient buildings along the river were destroyed. Fortunately, after a period of restoration in 1985, it became a famous scenic spot in Nanjing again.
The Qinhuai River is divided into inner and outer rivers by the city. The outer river is the moat of the city, with a length of 5 km. Ancient buildings, gardens, painted boats, commercial streets are lined here. Thus, it is a best place to get a glimpse of the ancient city of Nanjing. The inner river once was the famous red-light districts throughout the nation in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Attractions
The most famous Qinhuai attraction was the floating lights. At that time, all boats, large or small, had decorative colorful lanterns hanging on the hull at night. It must not be missed by the visitors to ride such a boat floating on the river. A verse about the Qinhuai River, written by the prestigious Chinese writer Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948), shows the wonderful view vividly.
The renovated Qinhuai River Scenic Belt is very charming. With the Confucius Temple at its center, this location offers a combination of historical sites, gardens, painted boats, streets and folk customs. The scenic spots along the river include the Bailu Zhou Garden, Confucius Temple, Zhanyuan Garden, Zhonghua Gate and characteristic boats and pavilion on the Qinhuai River from the section of Taoyedu to Zhenhuai Bridge.
Entertainment
Qinhuai River Cruise
The boat for the cruise is the ancient painted boat. The services on the boat are always impeccable, with services of tea, local snacks and performance of traditional Chinese instruments. The boat starts at Dongshuiguan Wharf, and cruises to Bailuzhou Garden. Taking the painted boats to cruise on the Qinhuai River, you can not only admire the sights along the river but can also experience the traditional culture of Nanjing.
Lantern show
Annually a lantern show is presented here from January 1st to 30th in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is an important occasion for the locals to enjoy the colorful gala.
Cate
The snacks here are very famous, such as baozi (steamed buns-stuffed with pork and other delicate fillings), roasted beef, salty duck, animal stomach, chicken feet (phoenix feet), beef soup and so on.
