Xuanwu Lake is in the northeast portion of Nanjing City near the railway station. According to the  legend, in the Southern Dynasty a black dragon was seen in the lake. Chinese Daoists believed that the black dragon was a water god appeared as the uniform of a turtle and snake, called Xuanwu. Hence the lake was called Xuwu Lake. The lake today is much more beautiful with its water and colorful mountains. Xuanwu Lake is best seen in combination with the Ming city wall bordering the park to its east and south and the Ji Ming Temple just outside Jie Fang Men at Xuanwu Lake's southwestern edge. The main entrance, through Xuanwu Gate, is just east of Zhongyang Road near the intersection with Hunan Lu. |
