Xijin Ferry, also known as Xijin Ferry Historical and Cultural District, is located in the northwest of Zhenjiang city. It can be reached by a 15-minute walk to the east from Jinshan Park. This area boasts a cluster of historical buildings, with the renowned Xijin Ferry Ancient Street situated here. Since the Three Kingdoms period, Xijin Ferry has been a ferry terminal, but as the riverbank gradually moved northward, the ferry is no longer in existence, leaving only the Xijin Ferry Ancient Street perched on the hillside of Yuntai Mountain. Ascending several dozen steps from the east leads to the Xijin Ferry Ancient Street on the hillside, with the terrain becoming lower as one moves westward. The ancient street is paved with old bluestone slabs, flanked by traditional residences and gable walls made of blue bricks, exuding a sense of historical wear and tear.
At the eastern end of the street stands the ‘Zhaoguan Stone Pagoda’, a stone pagoda built during the Yuan Dynasty that spans the street, allowing visitors to pass underneath. Adjacent to the pagoda is the Guanyin Cave, which was carved out of the mountain during the Song Dynasty as a place for praying for safety; opposite it is the Lifesaving Society, a water safety rescue institution built during the Qing Dynasty, and both attractions require an entrance fee. Continuing westward, one can find smaller attractions such as the Xiaoshan Building and the Waiting Pavilion. The Xiaoshan Building is a small wooden building constructed during the Tang Dynasty, with a plaque inscribed with Yu Qiuyu’s words ‘Jinling Ferry’ hanging under the eaves. From the front of the building, one can overlook the layers of old tiles on the rooftops of the surrounding houses; the Waiting Pavilion was once a place for ancient people to wait for boats or rest from the rain, and it is said that Emperor Qianlong once stopped in this pavilion. Beyond the Waiting Pavilion, one can see shops of various colors lining both sides, with teahouses, craft shops, and noodle shops all available, adorned with a variety of interesting shop signs, exuding a bourgeois atmosphere. If you have a craving, you can taste snacks such as Zhuangyuan Cake and stinky tofu, which are not expensive. The ancient street is not long, and it takes about half an hour to walk through while browsing. If you are not satisfied, you can return to the Waiting Pavilion and go down the hill from there to the Old Wharf Cultural District, where there are many retro buildings like the Deshi Old Foreign Firm, perfect for taking photos. You can also climb to the top of Yuntai Pavilion behind the ancient street to overlook the city, especially the beautiful old district at night. The district is open all year round, accessible 24/7. Entry to paid attractions such as Guanyin Cave, Lifesaving Society, and Yuntai Pavilion is halted after 16:15. The street experience is free. Parking facilities are available at the Xijin Ferry Underground Parking Lot, with a reference price of ¥5 per entry, located opposite the entrance of Xijin Ferry on Changjiang Road, with a capacity of 1000 spaces. WiFi is available across the entire scenic area; there is no fixed username, and the WiFi will automatically prompt upon entering the scenic area. Follow the instructions to connect. There is no fixed password; the WiFi will automatically prompt upon entering the scenic area. Follow the instructions to connect. Charging facilities are available at the visitor center, and luggage storage is offered for free. Guided tours are provided by the visitor center.Fees: Full panorama tour is 100 yuan per visit, Folk culture tour is 80 yuan per visit, Historical architecture tour is 80 yuan per visit, and Boutique tour is 60 yuan per visit.
Restrooms: There are multiple restrooms distributed throughout the scenic area, all with clear signs. Nursing Rooms: The Xijin Ferry Ancient Street Visitor Center has a nursing center where tourists can feed, care for, and change diapers for their babies for free. Convenience Store: There is a convenience store in the scenic area, located behind Zhenjiang Restaurant, and it accepts Alipay and WeChat Pay.
