Autumn in Jinling in the Year of the Dragon (7) Chaotian Palace

Chaotian Palace is located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing. It is the best-preserved ancient architectural complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the Jiangnan region, and is a national key cultural relic protection unit. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the site was a weapons workshop and a population center called "Yeshan" in the State of Wu, and was also an early city in Nanjing. In 1384, the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the reconstruction of the palace and named it "Chaotian Palace," making it the largest and most influential Taoist temple in the Ming dynasty. During the Tongzhi reign of the Qing dynasty, Chaotian Palace was converted into a Confucian temple (Wen Temple) and became the site of Jiangning Prefecture School. During the Republic of China, it was the site of the Capital High Court. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chaotian Palace became the site of the Nanjing Cultural Relics Preservation Committee (the predecessor of the Nanjing Museum). In 1978, the Nanjing Museum was officially established, with a collection of more than 100,000 cultural relics, including the Nanjing Man skull fossil, the blue and white porcelain vase with the design of Xiao He chasing Han Xin, the jade belt with the design of a dragon in the clouds, and the amber cup with the design of a fisherman playing with lotus, which are famous both at home and abroad. In autumn, the ginkgo and red maple trees set off the ancient buildings of Chaotian Palace, making it a colorful and beautiful place to enjoy the autumn scenery. Travel tips: Address: No. 4 Chaotian Palace, Wangfu Street, Qinhuai District, Nanjing Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 to Zhangfuyuan Station (Exit 3), and walk 1 km; take Bus 302 or 306 to Wangfu Street Chaotian Palace Station, and walk 177 m; take Bus 28 or 41 to Jianye Road Station, and walk 253 m; take Bus 4 to Mochou Road Chaotian Palace Station, and walk 385 m. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–17:30 (last entry at 16:30), closed on Monday. Ticket price: CNY 25 for adults; half price for seniors aged 60–69 and full-time university students; free for seniors aged 70 and above, minors under 18, people with disabilities, and military personnel (including veterans). Free admission on the 10th of each month.