Xuanwu Lake is a lake in the central-northeast part of Nanjing

Nanjing

' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...

, Jiangsu

Jiangsu

' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...

, China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

, near Nanjing Railway Station

Nanjing Railway Station

Nanjing Railway Station is a major railway station of Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. It is located in the northern part of Nanjing's urban core , near Xuanwu Lake.-Services:...

 and Ji Ming Temple. The Ming city wall borders the park to its south and east and there is a notable pagoda and the Zifeng Tower overlooking the lake.

The lake covers 444 hectares and is 15 kilometers in circumference. According to the local legend, a black dragon was seen in the lake and was believed by Chinese Taoists to be a god of water protection called Xuanwu which gave it its name.