阅江楼

Updated April 5, 2026

阅江楼 is a well-regarded tourist attraction located in Nanjing, China. With a rating of 4.3 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.

Location

You can find 阅江楼 at 3PVW+G46, Gu Lou Qu, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210003.

Visiting 阅江楼

Located in Nanjing, China, 阅江楼 is a tourist attraction that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.

Planning Your Visit

The tourist attraction is located at 3PVW+G46, Gu Lou Qu, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210003. GPS coordinates: 32.093793, 118.745261. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.

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Perched on Lion Mountain, gazing out over the mighty Yangtze River, 阅江楼 (Yuejiang Tower) is one of Nanjing’s most striking Ming Dynasty-style landmarks. From its 52-meter height, you get these sweeping, almost cinematic views of both the river and the city skyline.

This seven-story tower has a backstory that’s honestly more dramatic than you’d expect. Way back in 1374, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang dreamed up the idea after a huge military win—he even wrote a dedication essay for it.

But, as with so many grand plans, the tower never got built during his lifetime. Fast forward to 2001, and the structure finally stood tall, blending that ancient spirit with modern construction.

When you show up, those red pillars and golden glazed tiles really do catch the light in a way that’s hard to describe. Inside, there’s a massive porcelain mural of Admiral Zheng He’s historic voyages, plus all sorts of imperial artifacts and Ming Dynasty exhibits.

The grounds are worth wandering, too. You’ll find winding walking paths, photo ops with the Yangtze in the background, and nearby spots like Tianfei Palace and Jinghai Temple.

Every level you climb gives you a fresh perspective—sometimes it’s the city, sometimes it’s the river, and sometimes it’s just the breeze.

Key Takeaways

• Yuejiang Tower is a seven-story viewing tower built in 2001, but based on a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty vision.
• The tower offers panoramic Yangtze River views and houses exhibits about Chinese maritime history.
• You can explore multiple floors filled with artifacts, murals, and photo-worthy scenes overlooking Nanjing.

About 阅江楼

This seven-story tower rises 52 meters above Lion Mountain in northwest Nanjing. The views? Pretty spectacular—think Yangtze River winding below and the city sprawling in every direction.

Its story stretches back over 600 years. It started as an emperor’s ambitious dream and ended up as a modern tribute to one of China’s most famous “unbuilt” monuments.

History and Significance

Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, first imagined 阅江楼 in 1374. He’d just pulled off a military upset—defeating Chen Youliang’s 400,000-strong army with only 80,000 troops in 1360.

The hilltop must’ve meant a lot to him. He didn’t just sketch out the plans; he wrote Notes on Yuejiang Tower himself. Even his officials got in on it—Grand Secretary Song Lian’s essay became so well-known that people all over China talked about the tower, even though it never actually existed.

Workers started the foundation, but then life (and wars, and budgets) got in the way. The tower stayed a phantom for centuries.

Finally, in 1999, construction kicked off for real. By September 2001, the doors opened. What you see now is both brand new and deeply tied to the past—a 600-year-old blueprint finally realized.

What Makes It Special

The L-shaped design is unusual. One wing faces north toward the Yangtze, the other west, so you get this two-cornered viewing experience that’s not typical for Chinese towers.

Inside, you’ll find exhibits on the Ming Dynasty and Zheng He’s maritime adventures. There’s a multi-story tile mural that a lot of people rush past, but it’s honestly worth a pause.

The scenic area is huge—31 hectares—with Tianfei Temple and Jinghai Temple right at the base. Jinghai Temple, by the way, is where the Treaty of Nanjing got signed in 1842.

At night, the red pillars and golden glazed roof light up, and you can spot the tower glowing from across the river, especially near the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge.

What to See and Do

Yuejiang Tower isn’t just another spot to check off your list. There are real historical exhibits inside, and the views are honestly what you remember most—Yangtze on one side, Nanjing’s cityscape on the other.

Main Attractions and Highlights

From the outside, it looks like a four-story building, but you’ll actually be climbing through seven levels. Each floor is its own little world.

The first floor? Zhu Yuanzhang’s Dragon Throne sits in front of a golden plaque. On the east wall, you’ll see Emperor Kangxi’s calligraphy—“治隆唐宋”—praising the prosperity of the Tang and Song dynasties.

Head up to the second floor and you’ll get into the thick of Nanjing’s maritime history. There are portraits of Ming emperors, exhibits about Zheng He, and artifacts like old maps and calligraphy.

The third floor is where things get impressive. There’s a porcelain mural—12.8 meters tall and 8 meters wide—that shows Zheng He’s seven voyages to the West. It’s the largest Jingdezhen porcelain mural in China, split into 12 sections that cover everything from shipbuilding to diplomatic missions.

On the seventh floor, you’ll finally get those panoramic views of Nanjing and the Yangtze. Most people don’t realize there’s an elevator at the south gate, so you can skip the stairs if you’re not feeling energetic.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn are your best bets—Nanjing can be brutal in summer and icy in winter. November brings cool air and sometimes a dramatic mist over the Yangtze, which makes for moody photos.

The tower opens at 7:30 AM and closes at 5:30 PM, with last entry at 5:00 PM. Early mornings are quietest, and you’ll have the viewing platforms mostly to yourself.

Late afternoon sunlight makes those golden tiles glow, but beware: that’s also when the tour buses start to roll in. If you’re the type who likes to linger, budget 1-2 hours—less if you’re breezing through, more if you’re reading every placard.

Visitor Information

You’ll find Yuejiang Tower at No. 202 Jianning Road, Gulou District. It’s open from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, last entry at 5:00 PM. Entry is 40 RMB, and most people spend an hour or two wandering through the seven-story tower and the grounds.

Location and How to Get There

The tower sits on Lion Mountain, right along the southern bank of the Yangtze in northwest Nanjing. If you’re coming by public transport, hop on bus 10, 12, 21, 54, or 550 to Xingzhong Gate Stop. From there, it’s a short 300-meter walk west to the entrance.

There’s no metro station nearby yet, so the bus is your best bet unless you’re up for a long walk. Driving? The east gate has more parking than the others.

From up top, you’ll get clear views north over the Yangtze and south over central Nanjing—definitely worth the climb.

Tips for Visitors

If you’re aiming for an easy start, slip in through the south gate. There’s an elevator that’ll whisk you right up to the top — honestly, it saves your legs for the real exploring inside.

Not up for the climb? For 10 RMB extra, you can hop on the hill elevator. Sometimes, that’s just worth it, especially in Nanjing’s summer heat.

Want those iconic photos? Stand out front of the main building to catch the full sweep of those deep red pillars and that shimmering golden roof. The stone steps leading up look pretty epic in photos too, especially if you time it right with the crowds.

Inside, there’s a massive Jingdezhen porcelain mural on the third floor. It’s 12.8 meters of pure detail, showing off Zheng He’s voyages — don’t walk past it too quickly.

If you’re chasing views, make your way up to the seventh floor. That’s where the panoramas hit hardest: the Yangtze River stretching out, Nanjing’s skyline glowing in the distance. If you can, stick around for sunset. The light across the river is something else.