Baohua Mountain is definitely worth a visit! It is like a paradise not far from the bustling city, integrating natural scenery, profound humanities, religious holy places and leisure experiences. Here are a few reasons why it is particularly worth going:
1. **Buddhist holy land, ancestral home of Vinaya school:**
* **Core attraction:** The famous **Longchang Temple** (also known as Baohua Temple) is located on the mountain. This is the ancestral home of the Buddhist Vinaya school (Nanshan Vinaya school). It has a high status in the Buddhist world and is known as the "No. 1 mountain of Vinaya school". For those who believe in Buddhism or are interested in Buddhist culture and history, this is a must-visit holy place.
* **History and architecture:** Longchang Temple has a long history and its buildings are simple and solemn. The temple has precious cultural relics, such as the Bronze Hall and the Beamless Hall, which reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient architecture and the profound religious atmosphere. Here you can feel the quiet and solemn atmosphere of the thousand-year-old temple.
2. **National Forest Park, Beautiful Natural Scenery:**
* **Excellent Ecological Environment:** Baohua Mountain is a national forest park with a very high forest coverage rate, dense vegetation, many ancient trees and famous trees, fresh air, rich negative oxygen ion content, and is a natural "big oxygen bar", very suitable for washing lungs and relaxing the body and mind.
* **"The beauty of the forest and the beauty of the peaks":** Although the mountain is not particularly tall and steep, it is winding, with layers of peaks and ridges, and the scenery is beautiful and pleasant. There are the famous "Baohua Thirty-Six Scenic Spots", such as magnolia flowers (wild Baohua magnolias in spring are very precious), sea of fog, green peaks, ancient trees, etc., with different scenery in different seasons.
3. **Qianhua Ancient Village, Immersive Folk Experience:**
* **Reconstructed Ming and Qing Style Street:** Qianhua Ancient Village (Yangliuquan Village) at the foot of the mountain is a carefully built Ming and Qing style folk culture village. Blue bricks and black tiles, small bridges and flowing water reproduce the lively street style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
* **Folk activities and performances:** There are various traditional handicrafts, special snacks, and folk performances (such as street juggling, opera, etc.) in the ancient village, which are very lively and interesting, suitable for taking photos and experiencing local customs.
4. **Mountain hiking, close to nature:**
* **Perfect hiking trails:** Baohua Mountain has perfect hiking trails with moderate slopes, suitable for all ages. During the hiking process, you can exercise your body, enjoy the forest landscape, listen to the birdsong and streams along the way, and enjoy the wildness of the mountains and forests.
* **Overlooking view:** After reaching the top, the view is wide, and you can overlook the surrounding scenery from a distance, which is refreshing.
5. **Excellent geographical location and convenient transportation:**
* Baohua Mountain is located in the northwest of Jurong City, Jiangsu Province, not far from Nanjing City and Zhenjiang City (usually about 1 hour drive away), which is very suitable as a destination for a one-day trip or weekend short trip around Nanjing/Zhenjiang.
6. **All seasons are suitable, each with its own characteristics:**
* **Spring:** The mountain flowers are in full bloom, especially the rare Magnolia grandiflora, which is a good time to enjoy the flowers.