Overview
Nanjing is a former capital of six dynasties and ten regimes — the imperial gravity of Purple Mountain alongside the river life and romance of the Qinhuai. The grandeur of Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the spirit road at Ming Xiaoling, the night lights of the Confucius Temple, and the plane-tree avenues.
Good for: history lovers, families, foodies, autumn-leaf and cherry-blossom seekers.
Getting there & around
- High-speed rail: Shanghai → Nanjing 1 h (¥134); Beijing → Nanjing 3.5 h. Stations: Nanjing South / Nanjing.
- Air: Nanjing Lukou Airport; Metro S1 to town (~50 min).
- In town: 12 metro lines — the best way around.
Where to stay
| Area | Character | Examples | Reference price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xinjiekou | City-centre core | Jinling Hotel, Golden Eagle | ¥500–1200 |
| Confucius Temple / Qinhuai | Night views + snacks | Nanjing Zhuangyuanlou | ¥400–900 |
| Xuanwu Lake / Gulou | Lake views, quiet | Xuanwu Hotel, Shangri-La | ¥600–1500 |
| Near Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum | Close to the sights | Purple Mountain Villa | ¥500–1000 |
Eat
| Dish | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Duck-blood vermicelli soup | e.g. Xiaopanji, Huiwei | ¥15–30 |
| Salted duck | e.g. Hanfuxing, Zhangyun | ¥30–50 / portion |
| Beef potstickers | Li-ji Halal (Dading Lane) | ¥10–15 |
| Soup dumplings (tangbao) | Jiming, Yinshi | ¥20–40 |
| Taro & red-bean sweets | Nanjing dessert | ¥10–20 |
| Plum-blossom cake | Street snack | ¥5–10 |
Food streets: Confucius Temple (touristy), Kexiang market (local), Laomendong (creative).
See & do
| Sight | Ticket | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum | Free (book ahead) | 1–2 h | 392 steps; Sun Yat-sen’s tomb |
| Ming Xiaoling | ¥70 | 1–2 h | Stunning autumn colours on the spirit road (World Heritage) |
| Confucius Temple / Qinhuai | Free (boat ¥80) | 2 h | Best experienced at night |
| Nanjing Museum | Free (book ahead) | 2–3 h | One of China’s three great museums (closed Mondays) |
| Presidential Palace | ¥40 | 1–2 h | Witness to modern history |
| Xuanwu Lake | Free | 1–2 h | China’s largest imperial garden lake |
| Jiming Temple | ¥10 | 40 min | Spectacular in cherry-blossom season (mid-Mar–early Apr) |
| Yihe Road | Free | 1 h | Republican-era villas, plane-tree boulevards |
Practical tips
- Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling are both in the Zhongshan Scenic Area — set aside a day.
- March–April cherry-blossom season (Jiming Temple / Xuanwu Lake) is extremely crowded.
- Autumn on the Ming Xiaoling spirit road is the best season of all.
- Nanjing cooking is salty and oily (salted duck excepted).
- Many museums close on Mondays.