NANJINGNOW

If you were earlier at the dead end, just walk a little closer and you’ll notice that there’s a very small path on the left side that you can descend into. This path is narrow and allows you to walk the circumference of the huge compound. Take your time, and be careful…

This is a huge compound, so it’s gonna take a bit before you reach the other side of the mountain. In the meantime, it’s just alot of hard work… At some point, you’ll finally finish circling the compounded, otherwise known as 天文台 [tian1wen2tai2]. Ahead of you is another pathway….

We were really tired by then. But we kept walking, until we chanced upon another congregation. This time, they were practising some form of qigong in a clearing. It was quite a site, people doing movements 36 times each, which include rubbing their faces in circles, rubbing their knuckles together, massaging their head etc…

You may not see this sight all the time, probably only in the morning. But what’s certain is that you’ll hit this clearing and there will be several paths to choose from. We’ll just explore the following two:

1. Upward to 头驼铃 [tou2tuo2ling3] which is where the cable car station is:

You’ll see a flight of uneven stairs going up. This is the way to the top of the mountain. The road is uneven, but at some point, you’ll start to hear music. Soothing music. So good you start walking towards it. Then you start seeing stuff, like people in the air above you. In cable cars. You know you’re near to Tou Tuo Ling.

2. The path to the Ming Tombs 明孝陵 [ming2xiao4ling2]:

Now, keep walking straight down this path, and you’ll find the gate that allows you to enter the 明孝陵 [ming2xiao4ling2] tourist zone. This gate will appear on your right, and there will be people waiting there to collect your money for tickets.