Mochou Lake Park

Mochou Lake Park is a lakeside garden at 2 Mochou Road in Jianye District, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, on the western side of the old city. It is named after Mochou, a legendary young woman from the Southern Dynasties period who is said to have lived by the lake, and the park is associated with poems and folk tales from the Six Dynasties era. The lake, which is fed by the Qinhuai River system, covers roughly 0.5 square kilometres and is surrounded by traditional Jiangnan-style pavilions, covered walkways, bridges and rock gardens. A stone statue of Mochou stands in the park, and other sights include the Shengqi Pavilion, the Yuyue Tower, Chess Pavilion and the Hu Yin Ting. Visitors walk along the lake path, cross bridges, sit under willows and watch locals fishing, playing cards or practising tai chi. In summer the lotus flowers bloom across sections of the lake, and pleasure boats are available for hire. Visitors typically spend one to two hours here. The ticket is about ¥20 with children under 1.2 metres free, and the park is open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with shorter hours between November and March. Late afternoon and early evening are the most pleasant times, with cooler air and warm light on the pavilions, and the park is often lively with local residents. It is busiest on weekends and public holidays, and early weekday mornings are the calmest. The park is a three-minute walk from Mochouhu Station on Metro Line 2, and it is not far from the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre area and the western end of Jianye. It combines well with a day exploring the Confucius Temple and Zhan Garden, as the district is compact. The best photo angles include the covered corridor by the water and the lotus ponds in the height of summer.