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Katherine visits Purple Mountain, a large green space within Nanjing, a city of 9 million. She uses public share bikes to reach the mountain, then follows greenways through forests and past lakes. Her planned visit to a Ming Dynasty emperor's tomb contrasts with spontaneous discoveries, including a swimming lake and bird activity near the water. A Western-style lunch disappoints, and the trip includes an aquarium and insect museum. Katherine recalls swimming in Vermont as a child and compares that memory with her swim in Nanjing. The video ends with a suggestion to explore second- and third-tier cities, where visitors may find experiences beyond the best-known destinations.
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Cycling to Purple Mountain
Katherine explores Purple Mountain, a large green space inside Nanjing, a city of 9 million. The trip begins in a residential neighborhood, where she shows how easily locals can reach the mountain. Public share bikes make it convenient to travel to the entrance and around the area. Once there, she follows greenways through trees and listens to the cicadas, enjoying the forest without committing to a strenuous hike.
The visit combines planned stops with discoveries along the way. Katherine goes to a Ming Dynasty emperor's tomb, although the tomb itself is closed. She also finds an aquarium and insect museum within the mountain park. A Western-style lunch does not meet her expectations, adding a humorous moment to the day. Near one lake, she witnesses what she calls bird drama and notices the water and surrounding greenery.
Swimming and city life
One of the main surprises is a lake where Katherine swims. She recalls summers swimming in Vermont as a child and makes a personal connection between those memories and her time in Nanjing. The lake becomes a favorite part of the visit, along with the quiet trails and green spaces. She also discusses a year pass for the tomb and surrounding area as a way to save money for repeated visits.
The video places Purple Mountain in the context of city life. Katherine contrasts the common image of Chinese cities as concrete jungles with the green space and lakes she finds in Nanjing. She encourages viewers to explore beyond Beijing and Shanghai, noting that second- and third-tier cities such as Nanjing offer distinct experiences. The vlog follows her route from residential streets to the mountain, tomb, lake and museum spaces, including the unexpected details that shaped the day.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How do visitors get around Purple Mountain?
- A: Katherine uses public share bikes to get from the residential area to the mountain entrance. She then follows the greenway and walks between different sites.
- Q: Is the Ming Dynasty tomb open to visitors?
- A: The tomb itself is closed during Katherine's visit, though she explores the surrounding area and discusses a year pass for repeated visits.
- Q: What was the swimming lake like?
- A: Katherine finds a lake where she can swim and connects it with memories of swimming in Vermont as a child. The swim is one of the unexpected parts of her mountain visit.
