Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area is the National AAAA Tourist Attraction, National Key Park, and National Water Conservancy Scenic Area. Archaeological evidence confirms that Xuanwu Lake is a remnant of the ancient Yangtze River channel. Since the pre-Qin period, Xuanwu Lake has been known by nearly 20 names, including “Sangpo”, Houhu Lake, North Lake, Taiye Pool and Kunming Pool. The name “Xuanwu Lake” originated in the 23rd year of Yuanjia Period of the Song Dynasty during the Southern Dynasties (446).

Xuanwu Lake is located in the main urban district of Nanjing, close to Zijin Mountain in the east, adjacent to Ming Dynasty City Wall in the west, near Jilong Mountain in the south, contiguous to Nanjing Railway Station in North. It was the royal garden lake during the Six Dynasties, and was the National Archive of the Ming Dynasty where register books were stored, reputed as “Jinling Pearl”. Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area covers a total area of 5.13 km2, with a lake area of 3.78 km2 and a land area of 1.35 km2, composed of “five islets”, “one park” and “one road”. Five islets include Huanzhou, Yingzhou, Liangzhou, Lingzhou and Cuizhou, presenting beautiful scenery everywhere in each season. Huanzhou Willows, Yingzhou Flower Sea, Liangzhou Autumn Chrysanthemums, Lingzhou Shanlan, and Cuizhou are distinctive. One park refers to Lovers Garden. One road refers to Huanhu Road.

The scenic area integrates mountains, waters, cities and forests, with many places of interest, featured by eight views, such as Parade Review at Royal Lake, Water Gate Inquiring About Routes, Taicheng Willows, Fragrant Lotus at Curved Plank Road, Rosy Clouds at Long Causeway, Admiring the Moon in Dragon Pool, Guo Pu’s Mound, and Tianxia Huangce.