Timeline
16:02
Arrive at Yangshan Quarry and walk the path between the three colossal, abandoned stone sections. The sheer scale of the monoliths is best appreciated in the fading afternoon light before the sun dips below the horizon.
17:02
Find a quiet vantage point facing west. As the golden light hits the textured surface of the stone, the quarry transforms from a construction site into a monument to ambition. The sun sets toward the W, casting long shadows across the granite.
17:47
Stay for the final moments of twilight. The last light lingers on the massive steles, highlighting the rough-hewn edges where the engineers realized the journey to Ming Xiaoling was impossible.
Local tip
Take the Nanjing-Tangshan Line (南汤线, Nan-Tan Xian) bus from the Nanjing Railway Station to reach the quarry. Check the route for the latest bus times.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Nanjing (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).