Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, is one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, with over 2,500 years of history. Known for its rich cultural heritage, tree-lined boulevards, and the mighty Yangtze River, Nanjing blends imperial grandeur with modern vibrancy. From the Ming Dynasty city walls to poignant WWII memorials and from Confucian temples to serene lakeside parks, Nanjing offers a deeply immersive experience for travelers.
What you need to travel to Nanjing
Hotels & Flight Tickets
Hotels in Nanjing:
Trip.com | Expedia
Discounted Air Tickets:
Trip.com | Expedia
Transportation from NKG Airport to Nanjing
Nanjing Lukou International Airport is 35 km (22 miles) south of downtown Nanjing. Below are the best transportation options for travelers, including estimated costs, travel times, and key tips.
Metro
Line S1 (Airport Line) → Transfer to Metro Line 1 or 3
Route: Take Line S1 from Lukou Airport Station → Transfer at Nanjing South Railway Station to Line 1 (For Xinjiekou/Bell Tower) or Line 3 (For Confucius Temple).
Travel Time: 40–50 minutes to downtown.
Operating Hours: Line S1: 06:00 – 22:40 (From airport) / Line 1/3: 05:30 – 23:30
Cost: 7–10 RMB (~$1–1.5 USD).
Best For: Budget travelers and those avoiding traffic.
Airport Shuttle Buses
Main Routes: Line 1: To Nanjing Railway Station (city center) – 1 hour.
Line 2: To Zhonghuamen (near Confucius Temple) – 50 minutes.
Operating Hours: 07:30 – Last Flight (Buses wait for arrivals).
Cost: 20 RMB (~$3 USD).
Where to Board: Outside Terminal 2 (follow signs).
Best For: Travelers with heavy luggage or those staying near shuttle stops.
Taxi
Cost: 100–150 RMB (~$15–22 USD) depending on downtown location.
Travel Time: 40–60 minutes (traffic-dependent).
Night Surcharge: 20% extra (23:00 – 05:00 +1)
Tips: Use the official taxi queue (avoid solicitors inside the terminal). Have your hotel address written in Chinese.
Best For: Families or late-night arrivals.
Ride-Hailing – Didi App (English Available)
Cost: Similar to taxis (~90–130 RMB / ~$13–19 USD).
Pickup Zone: Designated Didi area (follow signs at Terminal 2).
Payment: Link an international credit card or use Alipay/WeChat Pay.
Best For: Travelers comfortable with apps.
Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) & Qinhuai River
The 1,700-year-old Confucius Temple is the heart of Nanjing’s cultural district. Surrounding the temple, the Qinhuai River’s lantern-lit streets bustle with traditional teahouses, street food (try tangbao soup dumplings), and silk shops. Evening river cruises (50 RMB) pass historic bridges and replica Ming Dynasty buildings.
Address: Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District
Opening Hours: Temple 09:00 – 21:00; River cruises until 22:00
How to Get There: Metro Line 3 to Confucius Temple Station.
Xuanwu Lake Park
A serene oasis since the 6th century, Xuanwu Lake is Nanjing’s answer to Hangzhou’s West Lake, but with far fewer tourists. The park’s five interconnected islets (Huanzhou, Yingzhou, Liangzhou, Cuizhou, and Lingzhou) are linked by willow-shaded causeways and arched stone bridges.
Rent a paddleboat to explore hidden coves or climb the Ming Dynasty city wall (which borders the park) for panoramic views. The Lingzhou Island Pagoda, a nine-tiered tower, is particularly magical when its reflection shimmers on the water at sunset. Locals practice tai chi at dawn, and tea houses like Baiyuan serve locally grown Yuhua tea with lake views.
Address: 1 Xuanwu Road, Xuanwu District
Opening Hours: 06:00 – 21:00 (Free entry)
How to Get There: Metro Line 1 to Xuanwumen Station.
Presidential Palace
This sprawling 60,000-square-meter complex has been a political nerve center for six centuries, serving as the Ming Dynasty’s Hanlin Academy, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s palace, and the Republic of China’s presidential office. The architecture reflects its layered history: classical Chinese gardens with koi ponds and rockeries stand alongside neoclassical colonnades added during the nationalist era.
The Xiuyuan Garden, with its zigzag bridges and pavilions, offers respite from the historical intensity. Political history buffs can trace China’s tumultuous transition from empire to republic through original documents and photographs.
Address: 292 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:00
How to Get There: Metro Line 2 or 3 to Daxinggong Station.
Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
A triumph of Cold War-era engineering, this 4.6-km bridge (completed in 1968) was the first designed and built by Chinese engineers without foreign assistance. The upper deck carries highway traffic, while the lower deck supports trains—visitors can walk along pedestrian lanes on both levels.
The bridgehead parks display socialist-realist sculptures of workers and farmers, while the observation deck at the southern tower provides dizzying views of tankers navigating the Yangtze’s rust-colored waters. At night, the bridge’s 1,048 lamps create a golden ribbon across the river.
Address: Northwest of downtown (Accessible from Shangyuanmen Metro Station)
How to Get There: Metro Line 3 to Shangyuanmen, then taxi.
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (Zhongshan Ling)
Perched majestically on the southern slopes of Purple Mountain, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is not just a memorial but a profound symbol of China’s transition from imperial rule to modernity. Designed by architect Lü Yanzhi in 1926, the 392-step ascent is intentionally designed as a meditative journey, each tier representing one of China’s 392 million citizens at the time of Dr. Sun’s death.
The vault itself contains a stunning white marble statue of Sun Yat-sen seated in contemplation, while the surrounding pine forests were planted to represent his enduring ideals. The copper doors weighed 1.5 tons each, the blue glazed tile roof (a rarity in Chinese architecture), and the acoustic phenomenon where whispers at the sacrificial hall’s entrance can be heard clearly at the coffin chamber.
Address: 7 Xiangshan Road, Xuanwu District
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:00 (Closed Mondays)
How to Get There: Metro Line 2 to Muxuyuan Station, then take scenic shuttle bus No. 20.
Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Purple Mountain is Nanjing’s natural and historical crown jewel. Its dense forests hide three major attractions:
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum: The tomb of Emperor Hongwu (founder of the Ming Dynasty) features the “Sacred Way”, lined with 12 pairs of colossal stone animals and officials. The tumulus itself—unexcavated—is covered in ancient camphor trees.
Linggu Temple Complex: Home to the Beamless Hall, a Ming-era marvel built entirely without wooden supports, and the Linggu Pagoda, offering 360-degree mountain views.
Astronomical Observatory: Founded in 1934, it houses antique telescopes and celestial globes.
How to Get There: Take the scenic shuttle bus from Metro Line 2’s Muxuyuan Station.
Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall
A profoundly moving experience, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall documents the atrocities committed during the Japanese occupation of Nanjing in 1937–1938. The museum’s design—by architect Qi Kang—uses stark concrete walls, fractured pathways, and a subterranean exhibition space to evoke the city’s trauma.
Key sections include the “Pit of Ten Thousand Corpses”, where victims’ remains are preserved; the “Wall of Names”, inscribed with thousands of victims; and the “Hall of Peace”, with its eternal flame and survivor testimonies. Visitors often leave in reflective silence, making this a pivotal stop for understanding modern China’s collective memory.
Address: 418 Shuiximen Street, Jianye District
Opening Hours: 08:30 – 16:30 (Closed Mondays)
How to Get There: Metro Line 2 to Yunjinlu Station.
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