Zhenjiang

Zhenjiang is on the main railway corridor (3 separate, more or less parallel, railways) connecting the major cities of Nanjing and Shanghai. Depending on how you count, it has 2 or 3 railway stations.

🌍 Zhenjiang Station (镇江站) consists of two separate stations, connected by a tunnel. The old station, on the "conventional" Beijing-Shanghai railway, has service to almost anywhere in the northern or central parts of China, since most long-distance trains running from Shanghai to anywhere from Harbin to Urumqi to Chengdu make a stop here. While conventional trains' short-distance fares are lower than those of high-speed trains, you aren't likely to get any such tickets, as the railway authorities want passengers to travel by more expensive high-speed trains.

The new section of Zhenjiang Station is on the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity line, a high-speed line with frequent service; it can be used to travel anywhere within the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor. Some trains continue beyond Shanghai (to Hangzhou, etc) or beyond Nanjing (e.g. to Hefei and Wuhan).

🌍 Zhenjiang South Station (镇江南站), some distance south of town, is served by the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line, and is more useful to going to destinations outside of the province, such as Beijing or Xi'an.

The closest major airport is in Nanjing (NKG).

There is also a smaller airport in Changzhou (CZX). It is closer to Zhenjiang than Nanjing, but has less service, including a number of domestic destinations and low-cost airlines from Thailand and Japan. Buses run from Changzhou airport to Zhenjiang (either to the main Zhenjiang Bus Station near Zhenjiang Railway Station, or to the Nanxu Bus Station near Zhenjiang South Railway Station) every 2-3 hours during the day.

Zhenjiang is also easily reached by bus from other nearby cities. Buses are slightly cheaper than the train, but can take up to twice as long to reach their destination.

A passenger and vehicle ferry (镇扬汽渡, Zhenjiang-Yangzhou ferry) operates across the Yangtze River, with the Yangzhou terminal in Guazhou town (20 km south of downtown Yangzhou) and the Zhenjiang terminal a couple of kilomters west of Jinshan Temple. Bus service to the ferry is available at both ends. See Yangzhou#By ferry for more details.

Four major parks in Zhenjiang provide the most common destinations to tourists. Entrance to each park is ¥30-50, and the parks with pagodas charge another entrance fee (about ¥10) if you wish to climb the pagoda.

The parks are all nice, but if you are not interested in Chinese history, legends and architecture and view them only as parks, then if you've seen one "park" in the city, you've seen them all. If considered purely as places to relax, Jiaoshan is enjoyable if you want to get away from people (it's nearly empty all the time), and Jinshan is nice if you want to boat around the lake (paddle and electric boats are available).

All parks have legendary history, which is the main reason they attract visitors. Jinshan Park is famous for being a "mountain encompassed by monasteries (寺裹山)". It is the setting of the ancient legend and novel "Tale of the White Snake (白蛇传)", in which it is flooded by the heroine, a white snake spirit, because the abbot of the Buddhist monastery had imprisoned her husband. Beigushan Park, near the Yangtze river, was a legendary stronghold in ancient times. During the Three Kingdoms period, the rulers of two of the kingdoms, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, took a horse ride here together to discuss forming an alliance - which ultimately changed China history forever. Jiaoshan Park, on an island, is famous for having "monasteries encompassed by mountains (山裹寺)" and is connected to the history of local resistance to a British invasion in the 19th century. Some iron cannons from the historical fortifications can still be found here.

• 🌍 Jiaoshan Park (焦山风景区). A park on a small island with a mountain on it in the Yangtze River. It includes a temple called Dinghui Temple, a large pagoda, peacock farm, and many winding paths through dense foliage. Bamboo forests partially cover the island. (updated Jan 2009)
• 🌍 Jinshan Park (金山公园). It's on the northwest side of Zhenjiang and includes a Buddhist monastery and another large pagoda. The Buddhist temple complex and a large lake (complete with paddle boats available for rent) form the majority of the park. (updated Jan 2009)
• 🌍 Beigushan Park (北固山公园) (on the north side of Zhenjiang). It has paths lit with lanterns after sundown. The park is surrounded by great landscaping and the Yangtze River. (updated Jan 2009)
• 🌍 Nanshan Park (南山风景区) (on the south side of Zhenjiang). It includes a hill with various paths snaking up and down it. A large pagoda at the top of the hill offers great views of the city, the river, and the surrounding countryside. The climb is very easy and takes less than an hour. Many people barbecue at small pits next to a lake to the east of the park entrance. (updated Jan 2009)
• 🌍 Maoshan Mountain (句容茅山景区), 26 km southeast of Jurong City, Zhenjiang (departing from Jurong Bus Terminal can reach), ☏ +86 15052992370, toll-free: +87 5001089996. 07:30-17:00. At an altitude of 372 meters, it takes approximately one hour to climb. It is not only a Taoist holy site but also one of the bases during the Anti-Japanese War. 85. (updated Oct 2023)

• 🌍 Xijindu Ancient Street (西津渡), foothills of Yuntai Mountain, Jingkou District (Bus #2 from DaShiKou (downtown, in front of Pizza Hut)). An ancient ferry crossing - heavily modified by contemporary restoration to create a more "ancient" feel. There are some interesting preserved medieval buildings and various shops and restaurants targeting tourists. (updated Jan 2012)
• 🌍 Zhulin Temple (竹林寺, 竹林禅寺). The "Bamboo Forest Temple" is in a valley between two mountains. The valley is located near Zhaoyin Mountain, which due to the profusion of mountain bamboo is also known as Bamboo Hill. The temple is so-named because it is surrounded by bamboo forest, and from afar it cannot be seen amongst the bamboo. (updated Jan 2012)
• 🌍 Zhenjiang Museum (镇江博物馆), 85 Boxian Road (伯先路85号) (Take bus no. 2, 12, or 102), ☏ +86 511 85285032, zjmuseum@163.com. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated Jan 2018)
• China Vinegar Culture Museum (中国镇江醋文化博物馆), No. 60, Guangyuan Road, New City, Dandu District (accessible by taking Bus No. 633，70,131), toll-free: +86 511 85307790. 9ː00am-16ː00pm. A museum dedicated to the history of Chinese vinegar culture, spanning an area of 4,000 square meters, offers free indoor WiFi. 30. (updated Oct 2023)