Nanjing Travel Guide

Destination overview Destination sketch Nanjing is a renowned historical and cultural city and was the capital of several dynasties over the course of Chinese history. Its name means “southern capital” (Beijing is “northern capital”). It has many historical sites including […]

Destination overview

Destination sketch

Nanjing is a renowned historical and cultural city and was the capital of several dynasties over the course of Chinese history. Its name means “southern capital” (Beijing is “northern capital”). It has many historical sites including the Ming tombs that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was the capital of China under the Kuomintang, from 1927 until their retreat to Taiwan in 1949. With a current urban population of approximately 5 million people, Nanjing is an important center for commerce and trade in Eastern China.

Best Travel season

Talking about best traveling time, March to May is the greatest period. The weather is most comfortable, not too hot or cold. All kinds of flowers are in full blossom waiting for you to enjoy. September to November is also wonderful, when you can admire the beauty of maple trees.

History

According to historians, Nanjing is renowned as one of the oldest cities established in South China. Being the capital of six dynasties in Chinese history and the capital of the Republic of China (China National Government established by Kuomindang Party led by Chiang Kai-shek) from 1912 to 1949, Nanjing is the perfect example of an historical city where major historical events were mainstays for the foundation of a country. Everything started in 495 BC when forts called “Yecheng” and “Yuecheng” respectively built at the outskirts of the present city, by the States of Wu and Yue, forming nowadays the Zhonghua Gate. With years of conquests, destructions and rebuilding the different States completed the actual Nanjing, called during the Qin and Han Dynasties, “Moling”. It was already in 229 BE that Nanjing became a capital city for the first time under the Kingdom of Wu. History and major events during the rule of the East Wu made it already become a major commercial, political and cultural center of China. Called “Jiankang” after the Jin court flight, Nanjing kept on being the capital of southern China for more than two and a half centuries, then enjoyed tremendous proofs of this rich past in its buildings constructions and relics. Namely, the Imperial Tombs located in the Qixia District of Nanjing are the best examples reminding this ancient past. Reconstructed during the Tang Dynasty, then known as Jinling, the city followed on with its building as an important Chinese city. Becoming the capital of China again from 1368 to 1421, Nanjing developed and saw its city walls extended for being the longest surviving one in the world today, and the city in itself was known as the largest in the world at that period of time. Let by itself for more than two centuries after the removal of the capital to the northern Beijing, Nanjing became one more time the capital city of China in 1644 after the dark events occurring in Beijing at that period of time. Devastated after Prince Dodo’s invasion, Nanjing capital was renamed as Jiangning from 1644 to 1911. Invaded by British during the First Opium War, then renamed again and again… Nanjing was finally selected as the capital of The Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Invaded by Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War and place of dramatic events for the native population following this event, history finally changed the city’s destiny another time. Indeed, this is since 1949 that the Government of the People’s Republic of China installed in Beijing after the flight of the National Government of China to Chongqing. As everyone would understand now, this is impossible to miss the opportunity to stop off at one of the biggest and greatest Ancient Capital city of China that is Nanjing. This grandiose past has left lots of interesting historical sites and relics that everyone should just see.

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Nanjing Lukou International Airport
Address: Lukou Street, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Phone: 025-968890
Complaint call: 025-52480315
Www.njiairport.com
Way of arrival
Airport bus
Airport Line 1: Chengdong Line
Main sites: Yuhua Square, Qinhong Bridge (formerly Qinhuai District Government), Xihuamen, Nanjing Railway Station
Operation time: From the first flight in the morning to the last flight on the day, the airport line 2: West Line
Main site: Cuipingshan Hotel, Nanjing South Railway Station, Zhonghuamen Subway Station Operation Hours: 9:30-22:30
taxi
About 1,000 taxis are put into operation every day at the airport. It takes about 110 yuan to get to the city center. If you encounter traffic jams during the peak hours, please prepare for travel in advance.
subway
Take the subway line S1, get off at Lukou Airport Station and walk on foot.

Train

Nanjing Station.
Address: No. 264, Longjing Road, Central Gate, Xuanwu District (near Xuanwu Lake Park)
How to get there: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Nanjing Station, walk to
Tel: 025-95105105, 025-85822222

Nanjing South Railway Station
Address: No. 98, Yulan Road, Yuhuatai District, Nanjing
Arrival: Take bus No. 129, No. 19, get off at Nanjing South Railway Station, walk to
Tel: 025-68518821

Nanjing West Railway Station
Address: No. 8 Longjiang Road, Gulou District, Nanjing (near Huimin Road)
Arrival: Take bus No. 39, get off at Nanjing West Railway Station and walk.
Phone: 025-85835222

Long distance bus

Nanjing Bus Terminal
Address: No. 1, Hongshan Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing
Arrival: Take Metro Line 1 and Subway Line 3, get off at Nanjing Station and walk.
Phone: 025-83190200

Nanjing South Bus Station
Address: No. 1 Jiangnan Road, Yuhuatai District, Nanjing
Arrival: Take Metro Line 1 and Subway Line 3, get off at Nanjing South Railway Station and walk.
Tel: 025-58378088

Nanjing Getang Station
Address: No. 400, Ningliu Road, Liuhe District, Nanjing
Arrival: Take the subway line S8, get off at Getang Station, walk to reach the phone: 025-58378285

Nanjing Long-distance Bus Passenger Transport North Station (Qiaobei Bus Terminal)
Address: No. 22, Qiaobei Road, Nanjing
Arrival method: Take bus No. 555, 636, 668, etc., get off at Qiaobei Bus Terminal Station and walk on foot.
Phone: 025-58850742

Traffic in the city

Bus

Buses are handy for getting around – particularly places that are inaccessible by subway, although Nanjing’s bus system feels a little aged compared to Hangzhou and Shanghai and has no English information. Google Maps displays bus services for Nanjing and some tourist maps such as those sold around the train station will have bus routes. However, as metro construction advances, bus lines are constantly re-organized to fit changed demands, so that any printed information you receive may be outdated.

Subway

The Nanjing Metro is a clean, cheap, safe and fast way of getting around. The system has 5 urban and 5 suburban lines, with more under construction. It covers most of the central city, and links two railway station and the airport. The lines are as follows:

Line 1 runs from Maigaoqiao in the north to the China Pharmaceutical University (CPU) in the south, via Nanjing Railway Station and Nanjing South Railway Station. There are 3 interchanges: to Line 2 at Xinjiekou stations in the city centre, to Line 10 at Andemen Station, and to Line S1 at Nanjing South Railway Station. Services between run every 3 minutes.
Line 2 runs from the Olympic New Town area in the west and follows Hanzhong Lu and Zhongshan Donglu to the east, terminating nearby the Purple Mountain scenic area. Trains run every 6 to 8 minutes. There are interchanges to Line 1 at Xinjiekou stations in the city centre, and to Line 10 at Yuantong station.
Line 3, that runs parallel to line 1 more or less North-South, runs from Linchang to Mozhou Lu via North Railway Station/Fuzimiao/South Railway Station. There are interchanges with line 1 at Nanjing Railway Station, Nanjing South Railway Station and with line 2 at Daxinggong.
Line 4, runs east-west.
Line 10 runs from Andemen, via the Olympic New Town area around the Olympic Sports Centre, crossing the Yangtze River to the west, terminating the Yushanlu station in Pukou area. There are interchanges to Line 2 at Yuantong staiont, and to Line 1 at Andemen stations.
Line S1 is also called airport line, runs from the Nanjing South Railway Station to Nanjing Lukou International Ariport. Trains run every 10 minutes. There are interchanges to Line 1 at Nanjing South Railway Station.
Line S3 runs from the city center to the west.
Line S7 runs in the south suburbs.
Line S8 runs from Taishanxincun to Jinniuhu, is a urban metro in Jiangbei area (the area north of Yangzte River).
Line S9 runs in the south suburbs.
Trains run from approx. 05:00-23:00. Single-journey tokens cost ¥2-9 depending on distance and can be purchased from vending machines in the station. Stored-value tickets are also available (see above) and give a 5% discount.

As in most Chinese cities, you need to scan any luggage/bag in an X-ray machine before entering the metro.

Ferry

Nanjing is on the Yangtze river. Scheduled passenger liner service is available along the Yangtze river between Shanghai downstream and Wuhan in the Hubei province upstream, although, the river is mostly used for transport of goods.

There are also frequent ferry services across the river, in particular from Zhongshan Wharf (near Nanjing West Railway Station) to Pukou.

Taxi

Taxis are a great way to get around and most trips will cost less than ¥25. The cab driver should start the meter as soon as you are picked up (all meters start at ¥9 + ¥2 service fee); if the cab driver doesn’t start using the meter and if you don’t say anything they may assume you don’t know any better and overcharge you. Ask for a printed receipt detailing the cab number, kilometers traveled, times, and money exchanged from the driver upon exiting the cab. Don’t expect to get a cab during both the morning and afternoon rush hours; demand is high and the drivers make their shift changes around these times. Tipping is not expected in cabs in China, so the price on the meter is the price you should pay along with a two yuan gas tax fee (There is an additional receipt for this fee.). Unlike cabbies in Beijing or Shanghai (who frequently shuttle foreigners around and may be accustomed to gratuity under the table) tipping in Nanjing is an alien concept. You are likely to befuddle but please a driver by insisting that they accept additional ‘free’ money. As with anywhere else in China, you are very unlikely to get a driver who speaks any English, so unless you speak Mandarin, remember to get your hotel’s business card, and get hotel staff to write down your destination names in Chinese to show your taxi driver before you set off

Attractions

Qin Huai River

Qin Huai River, a tributary of the great Yangtze River, is 110 km (about 68 mi) in length and covers a drainage area of 2,631 km² (about 1,016 sq mi). The river used to be called Huai River, and it is said that the river was channeled to the city of Nanjing during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, so it was named Qin Huai River from then on. Qin Huai River is the largest river in the Nanjing City area, other than the Yangtse, and is the ‘life blood’ of the city. There are many sites of interest along its banks, including Zhanyuan Garden, Zhonghua Gate, and the sights along the Taoye Ferry ride to Zhenhuai Bridge. Taking the painted boats to cruise on the Qinhuai River, visitors can not only admire the sights along the river but can also experience the traditional culture of Nanjing. Visitors can take boats at different wharfs to admire the scenery along the river.

City Wall

Confucius Temple

Once an imperial examination testing center for the entire Jiangsu region, this museum comprises a tiny fraction of the once-massive original buildings. The rest of the site is a massive, labyrinthine market; a top tourist draw in Nanjing and a place where you can get all your haggling out of your system. Get your picture taken with the Confucius sculpture and grab some tea on one of the gondolas on the canal. On the southern side of town next to Zhonghua Gate and the Taiping Museum.

The Gate of China (Zhonghuamen)

The southern gate of Nanjing’s city wall; this massive gate is one of the best preserved parts of Nanjing’s city wall, and one of the best remaining examples of early Ming defensive architecture extant anywhere. The wooden castle at top was destroyed by fire, but the immense masonry (each complete with the mason’s name and home province by order of the emperor) substructure remains. Two courtyards contain an archery range and vegetable gardens. The main gate has three immense depots within where, long emptied of provisions, you can find some scale models and exhibits about the gate. In one depot you can find an air raid siren used during the Japanese attack on the city.
Address：8 Jiefeng Gate
Arrival method Zhonghuanan Lu (Take subway line 1 to Zhonghuamen station and get out at exit #2, cross the highway and turn right, keep walking till you get to Yuhua lu, turn left and head straight to the gate),
Ticket：50yuan

Ruins of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace

The palace was built by the first Ming Emperor in 1366 and stretched 2.5 km in length. It was completely destroyed in the Qing Dynasty and what remains today barely hints at its size. In the tree shaded southern half are the small section of wall holding the huge arches of the Meridian Gate, five stone ‘Outer Dragon’ bridges and a array of megaliths, some baring fragments of carvings. The site was effectively a prototype of Beijing’s Forbidden City as the layout was copied by the Emperors grandson when he moved the capital northwards in 1421.
Ticket: free

Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

A memorial for the hundreds of thousands of Chinese who died at the hands of Japanese troops in Nanjing during World War II. Two partially excavated mass-burial sites reveal victims remains in situ, accompanied by insightful information boards around the walkway. The elongated sites sympathetically restrained architecture and beautifully maintained gardens are interspersed with sculptures, murals and other artworks that inspire solemn meditations. Close to the entrance is the recently opened museum exhibiting multitudes of photos, videos and objects to tell the full story, somewhat even-handedly, that can easily occupy you for hours. Captions are in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Entrance lines can be long, so plan accordingly.
Ticket: free

Nanjing Museum

Eleven exhibition halls display a mixture of poetry, bronzes and silk artifacts interspersed with cultural displays. Worth pondering over are a jade burial suit and an arched door from the Ming era Porcelain Pagoda. A great place to spend humid or rainy days.
Openning hour: 08:30-17:00
Ticket: free

Presidential Palace

Spend half a day exploring the headquarters of past emperors and the Nationalist government. The Palace includes the former offices of many top governmental officials, including Chiang Kai-shek and Sun Yat-sen, as well as the former residence of Sun Yat-sen. It is one the few places in mainland China where the flag of the Republic of China still flies. Informational placards around the palace are partly in English.
Address: 292 Changjiang Lu (Walk out from Daxinggong metro station, turn into Changjiang Lu, it will be on your left.
Openning hour: Daily 08:00-18:00 in summer, 08:00-17:00 in winter.
Ticket: 40 yuan

Taiping Kingdom History Museum

A small museum focusing on the Taiping Rebellion (1843-1868), a piece of history not well known in the West. This was one of the bloodiest conflicts in recorded history — some estimates put the death toll higher than for World War I, and it was certainly much worse than the American Civil War at about the same time, even though the Chinese used more primitive weapons. It was a crucial moment in China’s relationship with the West, modernity, and its relationship to its own imperial history. It was partly a religious movement; the leader claimed to be God’s second son, Jesus’ younger brother. The quasi-Christian, peasant-led rebellion overran an area greater than Texas with Nanjing as its capital. At different times it threatened both the foreign settlements in Shanghai and the Qing government in Beijing, though it did not take either. On exhibit are documents relating to Taiping history and the grinding reduction of their movement by enterprising Qing generals and their European auxiliaries, culminating in the siege of Nanjing. Next door are the beautiful Zhanyuan Gardens.
Address: About 400m from Sanshanjie metro station
Openning hour: Daily 08:00-17:00

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

This 6-km bridge over the Yangtze has sculptures that are classics of Chinese sociallist art; with workers and farmers carrying tools, soldiers carrying weapons, and all of them holding books, most likely Quotations of Chairman Mao Zedong (better known as The Little Red Book). The bridge was built after Soviet advisors left China during the Sino-Soviet Split of the 1960s, and is therefore the first major project built entirely by Chinese, without foreign help. A new town is being constructed on the other side, which may include a direct subway connection in the future.

Jiming Temple

Jiming Temple is the most popular temple in Nanjing and it is located convenient to downtown.
Address: No.1 Ji Ming Si Road
Arrival method:Near Xuanwu Lake, there are several bus stops nearby with over 20 buses pass such as no. 3, 11, 20, 31. Also accessible by Metro Line 3 at Jimingsi Station.
Ticket: Tickets are ¥10, which includes 3 free incense with every ticket. Price may rise during popular seasons

Zifeng Tower

building in the city and the seventh tallest building in the world. Hosts an expensive restaurant and a bar at 78th floor. Also there is a public observatory at the 72nd floor.

Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum

The most famous Ming-era site of Nanjing, Ming Xiaoling is the mausoleum complex of Zhu Yuanzhang, also known as the Hongwu Emperor, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Most of the monuments are lined up along the mile-long Sacred Way, which runs from the Square Pavilion (Sifangcheng) with its giant bixi turtle to the artificial hill where the emperor is supposed to have been buried. Look out for the stone camels and elephants of the sacred way, as well as for the site’s second turtle – homage of the Kangxi Emperor, the greatest emperor of the Qing dynasty, to his Ming predecessor. The site’s third turtle – the least known of the three, but the biggest and most mysterious – was found in a nearby ravine in the late 20th century, and is now installed in the Red Chamber Culture Park, which is located just east of the main Ming Xiaoling complex, and can be visited on the same ticket.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Resting place of the leader of the 1911 revolution and first president of China. A beautifully designed complex that features of fusion of traditional Chinese and Western architectural styles.

The tomb of Sun Quan

Tomb of Sun Quan, a late Han Dynasty general and leader of the state of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.

Qixia Temple

A one time retreat for Emperor QianLong, the temple at the foot of maple forested hillside now draws hoards of less exulted visitors to clamber along the network of trails connecting fancifully named pavilions, ponds, tombs and natural stone features. The temple itself is not extensive, having only a pair of identical looking bell and drum towers in front of an austerely large hall, embedded with elegant lacquer-red window frames, containing a relatively contemporary, yet gracefully benevolent looking gigantic Buddha seated on a golden lotus. At the rear of the hall is a pair of intricately carved cabinets of a more impressively authentic vintage housing stone Buddha and Guanyin statues. The temple allegedly has an ancient bone relic purported to be from the historical Buddha, though it is kept well hidden. Further up the hill is a cluster of stone formations bifurcated by a steep canyon, believed to have been split in antiquity by mystical forces, that enables accent up a stair way to a pavilion and a high view over the valley. Higher up the hill are the crumbling remnants of group of buildings used by Qianlong’s army. The best time to visit is during autumn when the maple trees are radiating orange or Spring when the peach blossoms are loaded with pink and white flowers.
Arrival method: From Nanjing, take bus 206 to the village of Qixia, fare: ¥3, expect 1 hour. The bus starts from the Northern Station Square, but it is best boarded at Xinzhuang Guangchang Dong.
Ticket: 40 yuan

Yangshan Quarry

The three sections of a gigantic stele, which the Yongle Emperor commissioned for the mausoleum of his father the Hongwu Emperor can be seen here in situ. The project was never completed, as the Ming engineers realized that there is no way the stone monoliths could be moved out of here to Ming Xiaoling.
Arrival method: the Nanjing-Tangshan Line bus from the Nanjing Railway Station.

Bailuzhou Park

Bailuzhou Park, literally Egret Island Park, is located in Qinhuai District, Nanjing, adjacent to Nanjing City Wall to the east and Xishiba Road to the west. Covering an area of around 15 hectares (37 acres), the park is the largest one in the southeast of Nanjing City. It has four gates respectively on Changle Road, Xiaoshiba Road, Pingjiangfu Road and Changbaijie Road.

Its name comes from the small isle on one of the park’s lakes. Thriving reeds grow around it and in the autumn, flocks of egrets gather on the small island. In the backdrop of evening glow, snow-white egrets hover and dance merrily, adding charm to Bailuzhou Park, hence its name.

Linggu Temple

The environment here is very pleasant. The Linggu Temple is surrounded by aged dark green trees. The sweet fragrance of flowers pervades, and the sound of the bell is melodious. The forest and springs around add vitality and wild pleasure to the temple.
Arrival method: Take Metro line 2 to Zhonglingjie and leave from exit 1, then walk north for 15 minutes to get to the temple. Take bus 202 to Linggusi Gongyuan.Nanjing Bus / Metro Search

Meiling Palace

Located at the foot of Purple Mountain, about 6km (approximately 3.7mi) from the city center of Nanjing, Meilling Palace is a splendid villa built by the chairman of the National Government, Chiang Kai-Shek, for his wife, Soong May-ling, hence also called May-ling Villa. This villa is the largest villa in Nanjing with a total area of over 2,000 square meters (2,392 square yards). Its formal name is National Government Chairman Residence.
Arrival method: Take Metro line 2 and get off at Xiamafang Station, then leave from exit 2 and walk northwest for 15 minutes to get there.

Zhanyuan Garden

Among the five most famous gardens of Southern China, Zhanyuan Garden is the only well preserved Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) architectural complex in Nanjing. It is the oldest (over 600 years) among all the others in the city. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) once came here and gave it the name of Zhanyuan. After the establishment of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1868), known as Taiping Tianguo in Pinyin, it became the residence of the Taiping Rebellion leaders Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Youhe and Lai Hanying. With frequent wars, it lay deserted for many years until its restoration by the government in 1960.

Xuyuan Garden

While Xuyuan Garden in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province covers an area only a little more than four acres (1.6 hectares), it occupies an important place in Chinese history. Despite its relatively small size, it is also renowned for its unique southern China gardening style. It is located in the Presidential Palace, at No. 292 on Changjiang Road.

Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Xuyuan Garden derives its name from a prince, Zhu Gaoxu, who once lived there. Later Xuyuan Garden became the residence for the governors of Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. Xuyuan is also known as West Garden for it was located west of the palace of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864). The kingdom was established by a peasant leader, Hong Xiuquan, who then proclaimed himself the king. The Xuyuan Garden later served as the presidential mansion of Sun Yat-sen, the Interim President of the Republic of China (1912-1949). Visitors will find that Xuyuan is the epitome of the modern history of China.

Xuyuan’s scenery is definitely worth viewing especially because of its historical significance. It is one of the two most famous gardens in Nanjing City, the other being Zhanyuan Garden. With water covering about half an acre of its total area, Xuyuan Garden is small, but exquisite. Its architecture is rather ingenious, exhibiting the unique beauty and charm of southern gardening. One of the most popular spots here is Buji Zhou, a handcrafted stone boat. Other attractions include Tongyin Guan; Xijia Lou; Wangfei Pavilion and Yuanyang Pavilion.

Mochou Lake Park

Mochou Lake Park is located on the western side of Hanzhong Road, Nanjing City. Mochou Lake occupies an area of 47 hectares (about 116 acres). Once as a part of the Yangtze River, it gradually became a lake as the course of the river wavered from the Yangtze River to the Qin Huai River.

Xuanwu Lake

Situated at the foot of Purple Mountain in Nanjing, Xuanwu Lake is a beautiful scenic spot protected by China. It is also one of the three most famous lakes in Nanjing. Surrounding it are Circumvallation, Jiuhuashan Park and Jiming Temple.
The history of Xuanwu Lake can be traced back to the Pre-Qin period (21century BC-221 BC). The name of the lake has changed several times during the long history. The lake gained the name Xuanwu because a black dragon was said to be in the lake.
The Xuanwu Lake Park mainly comprises a road around the lake and here five isles: Huan Isle, Ying Isle, Liang Isle, Cui Isle and Ling Isle. To fully enjoy the scenery, visitors can take a boat on the lake.

Plum Blossom Hill

Plum Blossom Hill is a small hill at the southern foot of Purple Mountain in Nanjing, to the southwest of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, and south of Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty. Together with Plum Blossom Garden at its foot, covering an area of more than 1,500 acres (247 acres), Plum Blossom Hill has nearly 500 varieties of plum blossom, and more than 30,000 trees of plum blossom. It’s called “the world of plum blossoms” and ranked top of the Four Plum Gardens in China, the other three being: Kunshan Dianshan Lake Plum Garden, Wuxi Plum Garden, and Wuhan East Lake Plum Garden.

Food

Duck Blood Soup
Gan Si (Shredded Bean-curd Sheets)
Salted Soup Duck
Pressed Duck
Dou Fu Nao (Tofu pudding)
Fried Spring Onion Pancake

Accommodation

Many accommodation providers, especially those in the sub-¥180/night category, do not accept foreigners. The yellow-exteriored 7 Day Inn chain, for example, will not accept foreigners in Nanjing even though this hotel chain is a good option in the ¥160/night range in most other Chinese cities.

Shopping

Salted Soup Duck
Rain Flower Stones (Yuhua shi)
Yuhua Tea (Yuhua cha)
Cloud Brocade
Jinling Gold Leaf
Wooden Carvings

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