Zhenjiang 1-Day Family Self-Drive Trip for 4 People During National Day, Enjoy the Mountain and Water City for 1000 RMB
This National Day, don’t want to travel far but afraid of crowds? How about a spontaneous 1-day self-drive mini-vacation in Zhenjiang! Just 1.5 hours from Nanjing, and only 3 hours from Shanghai, with a budget of 250 RMB per person and a total of 1000 RMB for 4 people, you can experience the beauty of this "urban forest"—home to a thousand-year-old ancient temple, Jiangtian Zen Temple, unbeatable river views, and a bowl of unforgettable Guogai noodles.
📍Trip Highlights: Hiking + Temple Visit + Food + Riverside Stroll
Relaxed pace, suitable for all ages, perfect for family or friends, no rush but full of fun.
🚗 Morning: Departure → Jiaoshan Scenic Area (Arrive by 9:30)
It’s recommended to leave before 8 AM, navigate to [Jiaoshan Scenic Area] (north suburb of Zhenjiang city), take the Huning Expressway or the riverside road. Round-trip fuel and toll fees cost about 200 RMB.
✅ Jiaoshan is known as the "Floating Jade in the River," the only island surrounded by water on all four sides in the Yangtze River, accessible by ferry (ferry ticket 70 RMB/person, including entrance fee)
✅ The Chrysanthemum Exhibition is grandly open during National Day, with ancient stele forest, Dinghui Temple, and Wanfo Pagoda scattered around, rich in cultural atmosphere
✅ Feel the river breeze, enjoy views of the Yangtze River Bridge, kids love watching boats shuttle by, elders sit quietly listening to the bell, very pleasant
Playtime is about 2.5 hours, no shopping traps on the island, purely sightseeing and relaxation.
🍜 Noon: Enjoy Authentic Zhenjiang Flavors by Xijin Ferry
After descending, drive to [Xijin Ferry Historic and Cultural District] (20 minutes by car, parking available at Liqun Times Parking Lot, 5 RMB/hour, about 20 RMB for the whole day).
Lunch recommended at [Yanchun Restaurant] or [Old Wharf Restaurant]:
✅ Must-try: Authentic Zhenjiang Guogai Noodles (shredded pork or kidney), clear stewed lion’s head meatballs, crab roe soup dumplings, vinegar-fried river shrimp
✅ Enough for 4 people to eat well, about 300 RMB, Guogai noodles paired with Hengshun vinegar, tangy and appetizing, unforgettable aftertaste!
🏛️ Afternoon: Stroll Xijin Ferry + Climb Yuntai Pavilion for River View
After lunch, start a slow walk:
✅ Xijin Ferry is a thousand-year-old ancient ferry port, with winding bluestone paths and layers of relics from Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties
✅ Visit Zhaoguan Stone Tower, Lifesaving Society Old Site, British Consulate Old Site (free admission)
✅ Climb [Yuntai Pavilion] (30 RMB/person optional ticket) to overlook the Yangtze River and old city panorama, breathtaking views
If with kids, try intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting or clay sculpture DIY (workshop from 30 RMB/person, optional)
🌅 Evening: Watch the Sunset on Binjiang Road to End the Day
Before leaving, drive slowly along [Yangtze River Road Scenic Belt], stop at the riverside walkway outside [Zhenjiang Museum] (free):
✅ Watch the sunset cast on the river, sailboats dotting the water, gentle evening breeze
✅ The silhouette of Jinshan Temple faintly appears in the distance, full of poetic charm
No extra cost, but you get the most beautiful light and shadow moments of the day.
💰 Expense Breakdown (Total ≈ 1000 RMB):
⛽ Fuel + Toll: 200 RMB
⛴️ Jiaoshan Ferry + Entrance: 70 RMB × 4 = 280 RMB
🍽️ Meals: Lunch 300 RMB + Drinks/Snacks 100 RMB = 400 RMB
🅿️ Parking Fee: 20 RMB
🎁 Reserve Fund: 100 RMB (buy some Hengshun vinegar, osmanthus sugar as souvenirs)
= Total spending exactly 1000 RMB, excellent cost performance!
📌 Tips:
✔️ Last Jiaoshan ferry at 16:30, recommended to leave the island before 14:30
✔️ Guogai noodles are slightly salty and spicy, you can request less salt or pair with soy milk
✔️ Xijin Ferry has many slopes, wear comfortable shoes, elders should walk slowly
One day in Zhenjiang, half city mountain scenery, half city river,
A bowl of noodles, a ferry port, a stretch of bluestone road,
Hides the most underrated everyday life and poetry of Jiangnan.
Spend 1000 RMB for a calm and unhurried holiday,
You will find—
True travel is not far away, but in every moment that moves your heart.
Take a boat from the South Gate to Jiaoshan. The autumn colors in the park are deepening, the paths are quiet, and the air is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus. The plane tree leaves in front of the temple are yellow, creating a stunning reflection. The little car is quite adorable, making it an excellent choice for taking the elderly out.
Jiaoshan, one of the three mountains in Zhenjiang, is an island in the middle of the river. You'll need to take a ferry from the scenic area to reach it in minutes. The main channel of the outer river reflects the bustling Yangtze River shipping scene. Comparatively speaking, it has fewer stories than Jinshan and Beigushan, but the scenery is relatively better.
There were surprisingly no crowds during the National Day trip. 😊 The natural oxygen bar was relaxing, and the lake and mountain views complemented each other perfectly. The ferry flights are basically every ten minutes, and there are also yachts that can go directly to Beigushan and Jinshan. Different options can meet various needs.
Jiaoshan has not been well-known among the three mountains in Zhenjiang, but it still has its own historical heritage and highlights. So this time I took the opportunity to come to Zhenjiang for business. It happened that I also had a water charm card this year, so I braved the high temperature red warning and went to Jiaoshan for a walk. The suggestions of Beijing, Zhejiang and Shanghai are to check in at Jiaoshan on the day of coming to Zhenjiang, because Jiaoshan is relatively far from the city, and the parking lot is large. There are many parking spaces even on weekends in this season. A major feature of Jiaoshan is to take a shuttle bus to the island first. Remember to leave the boat at the hour and half hour, and you will reach the other side in a few minutes; Sightseeing route: Dinghui Temple ~ Memorial Hall ~ Imperial Stele Pavilion ~ Go up the mountain through Dinghui Temple ~ Cliff ~ Sanzhao Cave ~ Biefeng Temple ~ Wanfo Pagoda ~ Magnificent Pavilion ~ Riverside Plank Road ~ Stele Forest (Xing Palace) ~ Pier This is the main route, covering the essence of Jiaoshan. Many places in Dinghui Temple are under repair, but the Great Hall is still open as usual. Please pray for incense and donate as you wish. The Imperial Stele Pavilion in front of Dinghui Temple is an old antique from the Qianlong period. The pavilion is not open, but the imperial stele can still be seen clearly. The ancient silver next to it Apricot has been standing for more than 800 years, and it still stands tall; the cliff carvings are the biggest highlight of Jiaoshan. In addition to the iconic check-in point of Fuyu, the stone carvings of Jiaoshan should not be forgotten. There are many older stone carvings. Sanzhao Cave is to commemorate what Jiao Guang saw. After the tour, there are two ways up the mountain. We chose the main route up the mountain~Continue to walk forward (not the one next to Sanzhao Cave), pass Biefeng Temple and arrive at the Wanfo Pagoda (also the commanding height). Unfortunately, the Wanfo Pagoda is under repair and not open. In fact, the Wanfo Pagoda was originally newly built, but the Wanfo Pagoda stele is an antique. Then walk down the mountain road, pass the magnificent pavilion (in fact, this is also an antique built during the Qianlong period, a must-check-in point), and return to Sanzhao Cave; then walk along the riverside plank road, get close to the Yangtze River, and then go back through Dinghui Temple to appreciate the treasure of the mountain~Wei Fashi Stele in the Forest of Steles, and then return to the pier to take a boat back, ending a wonderful half-day tour Jiaoshan is still worth a visit. I will write a travel note to share with you when I have time.
Jiaoshan, Zhenjiang City "Three Mountains and One Ferry" third mountain ⛰️, is actually an island, you need to take a boat. After the ticket is checked, wait for the boat, and there is a boat back and forth. The peak period is about 10 minutes. After disembarking, I went to Dinghui Temple. After passing the ancient fort, I began to go up the mountain. The mountain was not high, and there were many steps. It was quite tired to go up the steps. When I came to Suijiang Building, the highest place Wanfo Pagoda (not allowed to climb the tower), and then the downhill road went down the mountain. The whole Jiaoshan is not big, it took two hours to stop and stop, it is still good!
20241111 The characteristic of Jiaoshan Scenic Area is that the main scenic area is almost an island, a small island by the Yangtze River. You need to take a boat from the main gate to the main scenic area. The scenery is good. It will be more vivid with the guide's explanation. The army of cats on the roadside lazily basking in the sun is also quite interesting.
Jiaoshan is one of the three mountains in Zhenjiang (the other two are Jinshan and Beigushan). In spring, summer and autumn, the mountain is full of green, floating in the vast river. Here is the largest forest of steles in Jiangnan, Jiaoshan Stele Forest, and the ancient artillery fortress of Zhenjiang people's resistance against the British. Jiaoshan is famous for its natural landscape, simplicity and elegance. Although I have been to Zhenjiang many times, this is my first time to visit Jiaoshan! Jiaoshan is an island surrounded by water in the Yangtze River. The mountain is 70.7 meters high and has a circumference of more than 2,000 meters. It was named after Jiao Guang of the Eastern Han Dynasty who lived in seclusion in the mountain. Surrounded by blue waves, lush forests, green grass, and green mountains, it is like a jasper floating on the river. It faces Xiangshan on the opposite bank, which is the so-called "Ten thousand rivers flow eastward, and one island stands in the middle". It is like a "water park" in Jiangnan and is known as "floating jade in the river". Being there, you really feel like "a pillar in the middle of the stream", as if you are on the Putuo Fairy Island, and tourists come here in admiration. As the saying goes, "Mountains are not high, but if there are immortals, they are magical." The immortal of Jiaoshan is Jiao Guang, a hermit in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Jiao Guang lived in seclusion here. Emperor Xian of Han issued an imperial edict three times to invite him to serve as an official, but he refused to accept the call because he did not want to be involved in the corruption of the court. He collected herbs and made elixirs on the mountain, and cured diseases and saved lives. In order to commemorate him, later generations changed Qiaoshan to Jiaoshan. Compared with some famous mountains and rivers, Jiaoshan does not appear tall and prominent, but it has its own unique features, that is, the Jiaoshan Stele Forest, the world-famous first forest of steles in Jiangnan, the magnificent cliff stone carvings and stele carving art, making Jiaoshan a famous calligraphy mountain at home and abroad. The Jiaoshan stele carvings are available in seal, official, regular, cursive, and running scripts, with different styles, some are ancient and steep, some are unrestrained and profound, and some are strict and comfortable, and they are thick and heavy. It can be said that it is a collection of the beauty of thousands of years of ancient carvings and the spirit of hundreds of calligraphy. The "Inscription on the Buried Crane", a unique stele known as the "King of Steles" and the "Ancestor of Large Characters", was found in Jiaoshan. There is the "Shimen Inscription" in the north and the "Inscription on the Buried Crane" in the south. The Jiaoshan Forest of Steles and the Xi'an Forest of Steles are located in the south and the north respectively, each leading the way. Some people say that the Xi'an Forest of Steles is a symbol of the majestic Yellow River culture, while the Jiaoshan Forest of Steles is the embodiment of the elegant Yangtze River culture.
The combined ticket for 120 Sanshan scenic spots is valid for two days. Personally, I think playability is the first of the three mountains. If the time to travel to Zhenjiang is tight, then only to Jiaoshan can be done. Because Jiaoshan is an island, you have to take a free shuttle boat to Jiaoshan when you enter the scenic spot. When you get to the island, you can walk around the island at will, and there are scenery everywhere. In addition, the scenic area is larger and the tourists are scattered everywhere. Even when you are at the peak of the National Day, you are not crowded. Young people can climb mountains with good physical strength. The mountains are not high, 70 meters high. When you go to the top of the tower on the mountain, you can see the rivers and mountains, which are refreshing and refreshing. There are many lakes on one side of the island. Many cruise boats walk among them. It is not expensive to pay 30 yuan/half an hour per boat. They buy tickets to roam among the mountains and rivers in an electric boat for a short time. They look up at the height of the towers and look at the prosperity of the lake. It is also the season when the sweet osmanthus blossoms in the island's osmanthus garden, which is full of fun. It will take 30 minutes to return to the wharf. There are a lot of green shade on the island. Many tourists prepare tents and cushions. They sit on the ground and eat snacks and play cards. They are warm and harmonious. In the Baicao Garden, a pair of grandparents and grandchildren with their little grandchildren are running and crawling happily. Grandma is grabbing pictures with her mobile phone and picking up all the scenery. The scene is not much worse than that of the studio. I will come here with my children in the future!