Zhenjiang Jinshan Temple and Yangtze Riverside

Zhenjiang is a compact Yangtze River port city in Jiangsu province, China, about 65 km east of Nanjing. The high-speed train takes only 25 to 40 minutes (CNY 30-45), making it one of the easiest day trips in the region; a coach from Nanjing takes about an hour. From Zhenjiang Station a bus or DiDi reaches Jinshan Temple in about 20 minutes (CNY 25-40). The temple, in Runzhou District, is a hillside Buddhist complex whose pagoda rises above the surrounding halls and looks out over the Yangtze; entry is about CNY 65 and it opens around 7:30AM until 5:00PM. Below the hill, Xijin Ferry Street is a restored old quarter of narrow stone lanes, former ferry-port buildings and small shops, preserving layers of the city's river-trade history. Beigu Mountain, with its Ganlu Temple and views over the river, can be added on a longer day. Zhenjiang is best known for its black vinegar, which is sold in shops and used at the table, and for guantang bao, large soup dumplings eaten with a straw and vinegar; noodles dressed with Zhenjiang vinegar make a good lunch. A half-day plan starts with a guantang bao breakfast, then Jinshan Temple in the morning while it is quiet, followed by lunch and Xijin Ferry Street in the afternoon. A full day adds Beigu Mountain and a slow walk along the river. Return trains to Nanjing run frequently through the evening, and Zhenjiang is also linked to Yangzhou across the river, so the two can be paired on a longer itinerary. The best seasons are April to June and September to November, with mild weather and clear views from the temple. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is chilly. The temple involves stair climbs on the hill, but the pace is moderate and the overall trip is easy.