Nanjing, Jiangsu: A Full Marathon Walk Around Purple Mountain
Nanjing, Jiangsu: A Full Marathon Walk Around Purple Mountain
After walking a half marathon around Xuanwu Lake, I had been itching to take on something bigger. With the '2021 Spring Festival Online Marathon' event on Huawei Health nearing its end, the urge became irresistible. Finally, on March 7th, I chose to walk a full marathon around Purple Mountain.
**First Section: Jiangwangmiao Street**
Starting from Zhongshan Villa in the morning, I headed clockwise toward the junction. I've walked this road since childhood, and every sight was all too familiar. Along the way, I stopped at the Anti-Japanese Aviation Martyrs Memorial Hall. This is the world's first international memorial hall dedicated to aviation martyrs of the war against Japan, showcasing the heroic history of Chinese, American, Soviet and other Allied air forces fighting the Japanese invaders over China during World War II. When I arrived, a light rain began to fall. With reverence, I visited the Aviation Martyrs' Cemetery, slowing my pace and staying for nearly an hour.
**Second Section: Huanling Road**
From the junction, I entered Huanling Road—a section I'd never walked before. It's part of the Purple Mountain Greenway, mostly winding through forests with gentle slopes, making the walk incredibly comfortable. Drawn by its reputation, I visited Huangma Reservoir, nestled in the lush hills on the eastern foot of Purple Mountain. This was my first time there, and it felt extremely serene. The rippling lake reflected the mountain scenery; even though it was overcast, it was exceptionally picturesque.
**Third Section: Zijinshan East Road**
After passing Xianlin Avenue along Huanling Road, I turned right onto Zijinshan East Road. The scenery here soared in beauty, with birdsong and fragrant flowers accompanying me past the Sports Park, Liuhui Pavilion, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum—a route that constantly tempted me to slow down. At the same time, the slopes grew steeper and the crowds swelled. For safety, I had to put on a mask.
**Fourth Section: Lingyuan Road**
I lingered for nearly an hour at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, then continued along Lingyuan Road to circle Purple Mountain. I walked this road specifically for the towering plane trees that form a dense canopy overhead. In China, the plane tree has always symbolized good fortune. Since the first one was introduced to Nanjing in 1872, these trees have become an emblem of the city. Walking along, you're shaded by giant plane trees, the entire road transformed into a natural greenway. That simple, relaxed feeling is something you won't find elsewhere—especially passing landmarks like Meiling Palace, Dajinmen, Sifangcheng, and Stone Elephant Road, blending nature and culture. You can truly sense the historical weight of this ancient capital of six dynasties.
**Fifth Section: Meihuagu Road**
Turning right out of Lingyuan Road, I entered Meihuagu Road. Though it was early spring, the road was already awash with blossoms. After the long, harsh winter, such a sight easily intoxicated me. Near the entrance, there's a particularly photogenic grove of dawn redwoods, growing tall in quiet peace. I've loved dawn redwood groves since I was little; every time I see them, they evoke childhood memories that linger in my mind.
**Sixth Section: Botanical Garden Road and Taipingmen Road**
Starting from Qianhu Lake, I walked north along the lakeshore and the city wall, passing Liao Zhongkai's Tomb and Pipa Lake, all the way to Taipingmen. At the boundary between these two roads lies a section of the Ming City Wall known as the Dragon's Neck—said to be the steepest and most perilous part. This area was again deeply familiar, as my middle school was nearby, and it holds countless footprints from those days.
**Seventh Section: Huanhu Road**
Arriving at Taipingmen, I still had time to spare and was 6 km short of the 42 km goal, so I spontaneously changed my route to circle around Huanhu Road before heading back to Jiangwangmiao. This stretch had everything except solitude: great views, but after walking for most of the day, I was getting tired and could no longer appreciate the surroundings.
**Eighth Section: Xuanwu Avenue and Huaxin West Road**
From Xinzhuang Interchange to Yingtie Village and then to Jiangwangmiao, these two roads shared a common feature: chaos and noise. I pushed on, growing more weary with every step. This part was purely about logging the distance. Fortunately, victory was in sight, and I managed to finish the full marathon just before my phone battery died.
This day, for me, was particularly meaningful and unforgettable.
