Starting from Shanghai: 2013 Nanjing, Bengbu, Fengyang 2-Day Self-Drive Tour (Pilu Temple, Meiyuan New Village Memorial Hall, Ming Zhongdu Imperial City)

During the 2013 Spring Festival, my wife was on duty on the second day of the lunar new year, so we planned a self-drive trip for the third and fourth days, primarily visiting Fengyang in Anhui. Fengyang preserves many Ming Dynasty relics, including the Ming Zhongdu Imperial City, the Zhongdu Drum Tower, the Ming Imperial Tomb, and Longxing Temple with steles personally inscribed by Zhu Yuanzhang. Though these cultural relics are not entirely authentic, after reading 'Ming Dynasty Stories' (Those Things About the Ming Dynasty), I became particularly interested in Zhu Yuanzhang's hometown. The round trip covered a total of 1,092 kilometers.

Actually, I am no stranger to Fengyang. Xiaogang Village in Fengyang is the birthplace of China's rural reform. In September 1997, I visited Fengyang twice to interview the then county party secretary about rural reforms. On this return trip to Fengyang, on the third day of the new year, I stopped en route to visit Nanjing's Pilu Temple and the Meiyuan New Village Memorial Hall of the Communist Party of China, then spent the night in Bengbu, about 20 kilometers from Fengyang. On the fourth day, I also visited Bailu Spring in Huaiyuan County, and the rest of the time toured Fengyang's Longxing Temple, Ming Zhongdu Imperial City, and Ming Zhongdu Drum Tower. Another well-known spot in Fengyang is the Ming Imperial Tomb, which I had visited in April 1997 while covering Bengbu's housing finance reform, so I didn't include it again this time.

February 12, 2013 (Nanjing weather: cloudy, 0 to 12°C)

At 10:55, we set off from our home in Pudong, Shanghai, crossed the Yangpu Bridge, took the Inner Ring Elevated Road, passed Wuning Road, and headed to Nanjing via the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway.

At 11:32, we reached the Jiangqiao Toll Station on the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, having driven 28 km.

At 11:44, we arrived at the Anting Toll Station, total 48 km.

At 13:12, we stopped at the Douzhuang Service Area on the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway for a rest, total 214 km.

At 14:04, we reached the Nanjing Toll Station, total 293 km.

Exiting the expressway toll station onto the city connector road to Nanjing downtown.

We got stuck in a traffic jam for over ten minutes at Zhongshan Gate.

Zhongshan Gate. According to records, Zhongshan Gate is one of the thirteen gates of Nanjing's Ming city wall. Its predecessor was Chaoyang Gate on the east side of the palace city in the early Ming Dynasty, originally a barbican that was inconvenient for vehicles. In 1927, during the construction of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Avenue, the gate was demolished, its foundation lowered, and a new triple-arched brick gate was rebuilt. The middle archway bears a stone plaque inscribed 'Zhongshan Gate', and it allows cars to pass.

In Nanjing, I was especially eager to eat the salted duck produced by Guihua Duck Group, but the Guihua Duck store was closed during the Spring Festival.

On East Zhongshan Road we passed a 'National Protected Heritage Site' – the former site of the Kuomintang Central Control Commission, one of the 'National Protected Heritage Sites' among the 'Former National Government Sites'.

Nanjing's East Zhongshan Road.

We passed another national protected heritage site: the former site of the Kuomintang Central Party History Exhibition Hall, also among the 'Former National Government Sites'.

Photographed on East Zhongshan Road – already very close to the Meiyuan New Village Memorial Hall.

Tourist map of Changjiang Road Historical and Cultural Block.

Pilu Temple, admission ¥15. Named after the Vairocana Buddha enshrined within, it was originally called Pilu Nunnery, one of the famous Buddhist temples in Jinling (ancient Nanjing). During the Republic of China period, it became a national center of Buddhism, housing the Chinese Buddhist Association, the Chinese Buddhist Studies Society, and the Chinese Religious Friendship Association, among others.

Pilu Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen once went to Pilu Temple to meditate. The stele in the picture below was inscribed by his granddaughter.

The old houses around Pilu Temple, located in the bustling downtown area, appear somewhat dilapidated.

Pilu Temple is less than a hundred meters from Meiyuan New Village.

In the past, Meiyuan New Village was an upscale residential area for National Government officials.

The former site of the Chinese Communist Party Delegation Office (Meiyuan New Village), designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (fourth batch) by the State Council on November 20, 1996, in the category of important historical sites and representative architecture of modern and contemporary times, dating from 1946–1947. Free admission.

Across the street from the Meiyuan New Village Memorial Hall is Zhonglan Lane. Built in 1937, during the Republic of China period it served as staff dormitories for the Central South Bank. After being placed under the management of the General Hospital of the Nanjing Military Region, it has remained a residential compound for military families. Facing the street, there is a row of nearly 200-meter-long terraced houses, grey bricks and grey tiles, in a new-style Shikumen architectural style, uniformly two stories high with small street-facing balconies and a prominent attic on the top floor, acclaimed as rich in 'Republican-era charm'.

Street view on Hunan Road.

Nanjing's Lion Bridge, full of festive atmosphere.

Duck blood and vermicelli soup, ¥10 per bowl. 'Huiwei' duck blood vermicelli soup is a chain snack restaurant in Nanjing.

At 19:20, we reached the Yangtze River Second Bridge Toll Station on the Nanjing Ring Expressway, total 345 km.

At 19:29, we arrived at the Baguazhou Service Area on the Nanjing Ring Expressway and filled up with No. 93 gasoline for ¥260, at 7.73 yuan per liter, total 349 km.

At 19:52, we reached the Jiangsu-Anhui Main Line Toll Station on the Nanjing-Luoyang Expressway, total 378 km.

At 21:11, we arrived at the Bengbu North Toll Station on the Nanjing-Luoyang Expressway, total 524 km.

At 22:08, we checked into the Jinjiang Inn Bengbu Shengli Road branch, a standard room B with member discount for ¥133. Total driven 532 km. This is the only Jinjiang Inn branch in Bengbu, and I wouldn't recommend it, because the guest rooms are less than 20 meters from a railway crossing, and at night the train horns are particularly piercing.

February 13, 2013 (Bengbu weather: cloudy, 1 to 9°C)

The picture below shows the Jinjiang Inn Bengbu Shengli Road branch.

Bengbu Zhu Garden, a free open park in the city.

Jingtu Huaihe River Bridge Toll Station, free for small passenger cars during the Spring Festival.

Bailu Spring in Huaiyuan County. Huaiyuan is a county under Bengbu city. The spring is named 'White Milky Spring' because its sweet water is white like milk, and it is known as the 'Seventh Spring under Heaven'. Admission ¥20.

Pomegranates are a specialty of Huaiyuan.

West side of Jingtu Huaihe River Bridge.

Bengbu Municipal People's Government.

Taking the provincial road from Bengbu into Fengyang. Fengyang is only about 20 kilometers from downtown Bengbu; Fengyang is a county under Chuzhou city.

Street view in Fengyang county town.

Fengyang Long-Distance Bus Station.

Longxing Temple, admission ¥30.

The Ming Taizu Hall inside Longxing Temple. According to records, Zhu Yuanzhang served as a monk at Huangjue Temple in his youth, which was located six kilometers south of Fengyang. After he became emperor, he wanted to restore Huangjue Temple, but since an imperial tomb had been built near the old site, expanding wasn't appropriate. Thus, in the 16th year of the Hongwu reign (1383), he built Longxing Temple in front of 'First Mountain' and bestowed the name 'Da Longxing Temple' (Great Dragon Prosperity Temple).

Fengyang county town is about 26 km from Xiaogang Village.

The road to Ming Zhongdu Imperial City, Donghua Road, was bumpy and full of potholes.

Ming Zhongdu Imperial City and Imperial Tomb Stone Carvings, designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (2nd batch) by the State Council on February 23, 1982, classified as an ancient ruin, dating to the Ming Dynasty. Strictly speaking, Ming Zhongdu Imperial City is an archaeological site; the picture below shows the location of Donghua Gate. Naturally, visiting here does not require a ticket.

Remaining city wall and moat.

Wu Gate. This section of the wall was built in recent years.

Louxi Street leading to Ming Zhongdu Drum Tower.

Ming Zhongdu Drum Tower, admission to the tower ¥30. The Zhongdu Drum Tower, built over 600 years ago, has weathered many vicissitudes, repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, but its base has remained well preserved and is currently the largest drum tower base in China.

Admission ¥30.

At 17:13, we arrived at the Fengyang Toll Station on the Nanjing-Luoyang Expressway, total 622 km.

At 17:50, we stopped at the Jiashan Service Area for a rest, total 690 km.

At 18:15, we reached the Jiangsu-Anhui Main Line Toll Station, total 733 km.

At 18:50, we arrived at the Baguazhou Service Area on the Nanjing Ring Expressway and refueled with No. 93 gasoline for ¥260, at 7.73 yuan per liter, total 762 km.

At 18:58, we reached the Yangtze River Second Bridge Toll Station on the Nanjing Ring Expressway, total 766 km. Exited the expressway into Nanjing downtown to have dinner.

At 20:38, we arrived at the Nanjing Toll Station on the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway, total 798 km.

At 21:05, we stopped at the Xianrenshan (Fairy Hill) Service Area for a rest, total 844 km.

At 22:39, we stopped at the Yangcheng Lake Service Area for a rest, total 1,006 km.

At 23:01, we reached the Huaqiao Toll Station, total 1,041 km.

At 23:14, we arrived at the Jiangqiao Toll Station, total 1,063 km.

At 23:45, we arrived back home in Pudong, Shanghai. The entire trip covered a total of 1,092 km.