This Nanjing itinerary will guide you through the tourist attractions and activities you can experience in Nanjing, in the Jiangsu province.
Nanjing’s historical heritage is unparalleled as it was the former capital during multiple dynasties and the Republic of China.
In this blog post, you’ll find helpful travel tips to plan your stay and a three-day itinerary to experience the best in town.
If this is your first time in China, check my tips-packed China Travel Guide for first-timers! 🇨🇳
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Planning Your Trip
Is Nanjing Worth Visiting?
Nanjing is probably one of the most underrated cities in China. Its unfortunate location between Beijing and Shanghai often leads travelers to skip it in favor of these more famous cities.
Yet, its position along the lower Yangtze River and its history as the capital during the Ming Dynasty and the early Chinese Republic under Sun Yat-sen make it one of China’s most captivating cities.
In addition, it’s considered one of the cleanest cities in China, which is always a nice bonus.
In Nanjing, you’ll love the relaxed atmosphere typical of a university town. Its streets are lined with plane trees, there are peaceful lakeside areas, and cozy restaurants and cafes where you can sip Chinese tea.
So yes, Nanjing is definitely worth a stop on your journey between Beijing and Shanghai!
How Many Days Should I Stay in Nanjing?
I’d recommend a 3-day stay in Nanjing. Two days are enough to explore the city, and you’ll need more than half a day to visit Purple Mountain, home to historical buildings you can’t miss.
A 3-day Nanjing itinerary ensures you don’t feel rushed while visiting the sights and soaking in all the city has to offer, which is one of the worst things to experience when traveling.
How to Get to Nanjing?
Nanjing is easily reached by high-speed train. To book tickets, use Trip.com. It’s my go-to platform for booking train tickets in China and is so easy for non-Chinese speakers.
- It is around four hours and a half from Beijing
- It is around two hours from Shanghai
- It is around one hour and a half from Suzhou
Where to Stay in Nanjing?
The best district to stay in Nanjing is around the Fuzi Miao, Qin Huai River area, which is close to the main attractions and a lively area during the evenings.
Hotels in Nanjing: Holiday Inn Nanjing Aqua City is near the Fuzi Miao, and it’s perfect if you want to stay in the city’s heart.
Check Booking.com for the accommodation option that best fits your needs.
Nanjing Attractions Map
3-Day Nanjing Itinerary
Day 1: Presidential Palace, Nanjing Museum & City Walls
The first day of this Nanjing Itinerary is dedicated to learn more about Nanjing’s rich past as the capital of the first Republic of China.
1. Presidential Palace
⏰ Visit Time: 1-2 hours
🏷️ Ticket Price: 35 ¥. Make sure to bring your Passport.
Ⓜ️ How to Get There: From Fuzi Miao, take the subway line to Daxinggong
The first day in Nanjing starts with a visit to the Presidential Palace. If you’re into Chinese history, this Palace is a must-see.
After Taiping took over, The Mansion of the Heavenly King, as it was called then, was built on the foundations of a Ming-style palace.
The palace, now known as the Presidential Palace, also housed the office of the Republic of China’s President from 1927 until 1949.
The building is divided into three sections: the Middle section, with its presidential hallways and offices; the west section, also called the West Garden; and the East section, which is used as a temporary exhibition hall displaying historical documents and records.
The Palace is surrounded by a beautiful Ming-style garden that can be visited, and it’s lovely in Spring.
Unfortunately, the signs within the Palace are all written in Chinese, so if you want to make the most of your visit, book an English guide in advance.
2. Nanjing Museum
⏰ Visit Time: 3 hours
🏷️ Ticket Price: Free. Head to the ticket office at the right side of the entrance, where they will check your passport.
Ⓜ️ How to Get There: From Daxinggong subway station, take subway line 2 to Minggugong, then walk to the museum for about 10 minutes.
If you’re craving extensive museum displays, the Nanjing Museum is one of the largest in the country.
Three hours isn’t enough to explore the museum in detail, so if you’re truly interested, I recommend expanding your visit to over two half days. Also, I suggest purchasing the English audioguide to ensure you don’t miss any important information.
The Museum houses the most extensive Ming and Qing Porcelain collection, paintings, ancient calligraphy, and Buddhist Sutras.
In addition, the underground section hosts the Gallery of the Republican Period, where you can see Nanjing taken back to the 1930s with old shops and buildings represented.
This museum is one of the city’s highlights, allowing you to dive deeper into its rich history.
3. Nanjing City Walls
🏷️ Ticket Price: From 10¥ to 30¥, depending on the section.
Ⓜ️ How to Get There: From Fuzi Miao, it’s a 20-minute walk to the Zhonghua Gate (South Gate)
Cycling or hiking along the Nanjing City Walls is the perfect way to take in the beautiful scenery around the city, including the Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain.
In the 1400s, the Nanjing City Walls were the longest in the world, protecting the city within. Today, several sections of these historic walls remain intact.
Zhonghua Gate is an ideal starting point for your hike. It’s one of the 13 gates that once served as entrances to Nanjing. With its connecting spaces leading to the wall, it looks more like a palace than a simple gate.
From Zhonghua Gate, you can make your way to Dongshui Guan.
If you’re up for a longer walk, you can continue to the Wu Gate, about an hour away, where you’ll pass through the former Ming Imperial Palace ruins.
Exploring all the sections of the Walls is a great way to experience the city, from its historic old town to its more modern districts.
Day 2: Purple Mountain & Fuzi Miao
The second day of this Nanjing Itinerary is dedicated to discover the historical and cultural relics that are so important for the local inhabitants and China as a whole.
4. Purple Mountain (Zijin Mountain)
⏰ Visit Time: More than half a day
Purple Mountain gets its name from the golden and purple hues that light up its trees at dawn and dusk.
It’s a lush natural site and home to four main scenic areas that house most of Nanjing’s historically significant buildings.
Buses can take you from one scenic area to another, with a single ticket costing around 10¥. While there’s plenty to explore beyond the main scenic areas, the most significant sights are below.
Ming Xiaoling Tomb
This mausoleum, the burial place of the Ming Dynasty founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, and his Empress, represents the finest example of Ming architecture. It even inspired the design of similar structures built in later periods.
If you visit early in the morning, you can truly experience the spiritual atmosphere, especially along the hopefully quiet Spirit Path. This path, lined with stone statues of lions, camels, elephants, and horses, was meant to guard the tomb from evil spirits.
At the end of the Spirit Path, you’ll pass through a series of halls and a temple before arriving at the tomb. If you’re visiting in spring, don’t miss Plum Blossom Hill, just south of the Mausoleum. From mid-February to mid-March, the Plum Blossom Festival takes place here.
Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is one of the top spots on Purple Mountain, and it’s easy to see why.
It’s a favorite among Chinese visitors and history enthusiasts who come to pay their respects to Sun Yat-sen, the Father of Modern China and a key figure in creating the first Chinese Republic.
The mausoleum itself is stunning. Set on a mountain slope, it combines traditional imperial tomb style with modern architecture.
You’ll start your visit with a long staircase. At the bottom, you’ll see the impressive three-arch marble gate, the official entrance to the site.
As you make your way up, the Sacrificial Hall stands more than 700 meters away.
It’s the central part of the mausoleum and looks incredible against the backdrop of the mountain.
Linggu Temple Scenic Area
The Linggu Temple Scenic Area is perfect for enjoying beautiful views while being surrounded by ancient trees that seem to hold stories of the past.
Located east of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, this Buddhist temple gives off a calm and historic vibe.
One of the main highlights is the Memorial Hall dedicated to Xuanzang, the monk who traveled to India and brought back the Buddhist Sutras.
As you explore the grounds, you’ll come across the unique Beamless Hall. Built during the Ming Dynasty entirely from brick and stone, it stands strong without a single beam for support.
A short walk uphill will take you to the Linggu Pagoda.
This pagoda catches your eye with its appearance. Surrounded by greenery, it’s a great spot for photos or just taking a moment to appreciate the view.
5. Fuzi Miao
🏷️ Ticket Price: Free.
Originally built during the Song Dynasty and rebuilt several times since, Fuzi Miao, or the Confucius Temple, is a must-see spot in downtown Nanjing.
Today, the temple reflects the Ming and Qing Dynasty architectural style: it’s not only a temple, but a bigger complex housing other attractions.
What makes this area come alive is the Qinhuai River, lined with those typical red lanterns, running alongside the edges of the temple complex and even through its borders.
This is one of the busiest spots in Nanjing. You’ll catch the tempting aroma of street food through the air as you walk along lively streets packed with souvenir shops, vendors, and visitors snapping photos.
It’s perfect for a late-afternoon stroll when the sun starts to set, followed by a typical chinese dinner along the river.
Day 3: Jiuhuashan Park, Jiming Temple & Xuanwu Lake
The third day of this Nanjing Itinerary is dedicated to discover the stunning views and natural areas in in this city. Mainly those around the Jiuhuashan Park, the Jiming Temple and the Xuanwu Lake.
6. Jiuhuashan Park
🏷️ Ticket Price: Free.
Jiuhuashan Park is one of Nanjing’s gems.
It doesn’t get the attention it deserves, probably because many visitors take one look at the steep climb to the Sanzang Pagoda and decide to skip it. But if you’re up for the challenge, the hike is definitely worth it.
The path steadily climbs, and there’s plenty to distract you along the way, like a peaceful temple where you can pause to catch your breath.
When you finally reach the top, the view is incredible.
You’ll see the Purple Mountain in the distance, the calm waters of Xuanwu Lake, the historic City Walls, and the Nanjing skyline coming into view. I told you it was worth it!
7. Jiming Temple
The Jiming Temple is the busiest Buddhist temple in Nanjing.
If you’re visiting in spring, the whole area around the temple and the Yaoshifo Pagoda is blanketed in cherry blossoms, creating a beautiful, dreamy atmosphere.
You can enter the base of the pagoda, where you’ll find hundreds of small golden Buddha statues displayed in glass cabinets.
From here, the view is amazing — you can see Xuanwu Lake below and the City Walls in the distance, adding a stunning backdrop.
8. Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area
If you enjoy strolling through beautiful, peaceful spots, the Xuanwu Lake area is the place to be.
The area has five small islands connected by bridges, with pagodas, Chinese-style gardens, pavilions, and teahouses scattered around.
Once an imperial garden, Xuanwu Lake Park is now a calm city park, perfect for relaxing.
In spring, cherry blossoms bloom, while summer brings lotus flowers and weeping willows. In fall, the trees turn red and gold with maples and ginkgos.
Each of the five islands has its own charm: Liang Islet hosts the Lake God Temple and a Peony Garden and Ying Islet is home to over 200 rare bird species.
With pagodas, pavilions, tea houses, a zoo, and boat rentals, there’s plenty to see and do here.
And just like that we reached the end of this Nanjing Itinerary. Hopefully this post will help you plan your trip to Nanjing in the smoothest way possible. Enjoy your time in China! 🇨🇳
This blog post was all about the perfect 3-day Nanjing Itinerary.
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