Yihe Road: A Step-by-Step Scenic Walk into the Old Dream of the Republic of China Era

Yihe Road in Nanjing is a street that requires you to savor it step by step. From the moment you enter this area, time slows down. Towering French plane trees close overhead, sunlight filters through the leaves casting dappled shadows on the bright yellow walls. There are no noisy shops here, only continuous courtyard walls and occasional greenery peeking over the tops. Walking slowly along Yihe Road feels like flipping through a three-dimensional architectural history book. Spanish-style red tile sloping roofs, modernist clean lines, exquisite porches blending Chinese and Western styles—each old building tells its story with a unique posture. Although most mansions are not open to the public, the details on the exterior walls are enough to imagine their former glory. Yihe Road is most beautiful in autumn. Golden plane tree leaves fall with the wind, covering the entire street, rustling underfoot. On an afternoon in this season, the sunlight is especially gentle, dyeing the whole road a warm golden color, making it the perfect time for a stroll. Here, please slow your pace and lower your voice. This is not a place to rush through, but a place to quietly feel. Turning into any side street at random might lead you to unexpected scenery. When the sun sets and long tree shadows are cast on the walls, you will understand: the charm of Yihe Road lies not in any specific attraction, but in this gentle walk that softly dialogues with history. This short 500-meter walk is enough to make you forget the city's hustle and bustle and find inner peace.