A must-visit in Nanjing! Nanjing travel guide featuring Xuanwu Lake and its four seasons

Through the four seasons, I look forward to every spring, summer, fall and winter. When traveling in Nanjing, there is a kind of romance called the four seasons of Xuanwu Lake, and a kind of healing called the sunset at Xuanwu Lake. This royal garden hidden in the city center reveals its most beautiful side no matter which season you visit.

And on every clear evening, it stages an orange-sea sunset that belongs to Nanjing, becoming the cherished dream of countless people. Spring at Xuanwu Lake belongs to the cherry blossoms. In mid-to-late March, hundreds of cherry trees on Yingzhou Island bloom right on schedule, turning the entire Cherry Blossom Avenue into a sea of pink and white.

When the wind blows, petals fall like snow. Walking under the cherry trees, even your hair carries a romantic vibe. If you visit Xuanwu Lake in spring, be sure to come in the morning.

There are hardly any people then, and all of Yingzhou Island is peaceful and quiet. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the blossoms, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Occasionally, couples stroll beneath the trees, creating a truly beautiful scene.

Besides Yingzhou Island, the willows on Huanzhou Island are another highlight. Tender green branches hang down to the lake surface, swaying gently in the breeze, the gentlest image of spring in Jiangnan. The spring sunset at Xuanwu Lake is also exceptionally soft.

At dusk, the setting sun dyes the cherry blossoms warm gold, and the petals sparkle in the fading light. The lake reflects the orange glow of the evening clouds, and even the air feels tender. Waiting for the sunset under the cherry trees, with blossoms paired against the twilight sky, is perhaps the most romantic thing about spring.

Summer at Xuanwu Lake belongs to lotus flowers and evening breezes. From June to August, lotuses along the Lotus Boardwalk and the Ten-Mile Corridor bloom one after another. "Lotus leaves stretch to the sky in endless green; lotus flowers glow uniquely red in the sun."

Walking along the lake, you feel the fragrance of lotus in the wind, blowing away the summer heat. The summer sunset at Xuanwu Lake is the most passionate. Around 7 p.m. both the sky and the lake turn orange-red.

Lit by the setting sun, the lotus leaves and flowers look as if they've been edged in gold. Standing on the Ten-Mile Causeway, watching the shimmering lake, and feeling the lotus-scented evening breeze, you feel all your worries blown away. Summer is the best time for a night tour of Xuanwu Lake.

After sunset, take a slow walk along the lakeside road or rent a bicycle. It's neither scorching nor hot, and the evening breeze on your face feels wonderful. At night, the lights around the lake turn on, lotus leaves sway gently in the dark, and you can occasionally hear frogs croaking.

That summer-night atmosphere is truly relaxing. Autumn at Xuanwu Lake offers one of the most beautiful fall scenes in Nanjing. In mid-to-late November, the ginkgo avenue on Liangzhou Island turns golden.

Sunlight filters through the yellow leaves, and the ground is covered with a thick layer of fallen foliage. Stepping on them feels special, and photos here have great atmosphere. Autumn is when Xuanwu Lake has the richest colors, with various hues intertwined like a spilled palette.

Besides the ginkgos, don't miss the chrysanthemum exhibition on Liangzhou Island. Chrysanthemums of all colors compete in beauty, blooming in their own unique ways, a liveliness found only in autumn. The autumn sunset is the most poetic.

The evening sun isn't too harsh, spilling warmly over the lake, and the outline of the Ming City Wall stands out clearly in the fading light. It's a perfect spot for photographing autumn sunsets. At Xuanwu Lake in fall, every casual snap looks like a masterpiece.

Winter at Xuanwu Lake is the quietest yet most stunning. After a snowfall, Xuanwu Lake is dressed in white. The Ming City Wall, pavilions, terraces and trees are all blanketed in snow, instantly transporting you back to the ancient city of Jinling.

Even without snow, winter Xuanwu Lake has its own beauty. The wintersweet on Liangzhou Island blooms, and you can smell its delicate fragrance from afar. In the cold winter, that touch of color feels especially warm.

With fewer visitors in winter, the whole park is quiet, perfect for a slow stroll and taking it all in. Winter sunsets come early; past 5 p.m. the sun begins to set, and the horizon slowly darkens. The lake is crisp and cool, and the setting sun lays down a sheet of golden light.

That breathtaking beauty is unforgettable once seen. If each season at Xuanwu Lake has its own charm, then the sunset is something you must not miss in any season. The best place to watch the sunset is definitely the Ten-Mile Causeway.

There are no obstructions, the view is wide open, and you can see the lake, Purple Mountain, the Ming City Wall and Zifeng Tower all at once, the perfect embodiment of Nanjing's blend of mountains, waters, city and forests. The shimmering lake looks as if scattered with broken gold. The outline of the Ming City Wall becomes a dark silhouette in the sunset, and distant Purple Mountain is bathed in warm tones.

Occasionally a boat glides across the lake, leaving a golden trail. Many people come here specifically to wait for the sunset. When the last ray of sun disappears behind the mountain, the sky turns pinkish-purple, and gradually darkens.

In that moment, you'll understand why so many people say: you have to watch a sunset at Xuanwu Lake at least once. That's just how Xuanwu Lake is: not flashy, not showy, yet quietly beautiful in every season and every evening. Whenever you come, it's here, healing everyone who arrives with a whole lake of scenery.