Nanjing Travel Guide 2026 — Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Confucius Temple & Qinhuai River

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Nanjing Bucket Listthe little things that make Nanjing unforgettable

Walk the plane-tree avenues of Zhongshan

The 40 km of French plane trees planted for Sun Yat-sen's funeral procession — the green tunnels that frame the Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling.

Climb to Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

The 392 steps to the blue-tiled hall of the Republic's founder — the great civic monument of modern China, free to visit.

Row the Qinhuai River at night

The lantern boats of the Confucius Temple quarter — "Six Dynasties of gold powder" reflected in the water, the most romantic evening in Jiangnan.

Walk the stone elephants of Ming Xiaoling

The Ming emperor's sacred way — 600-year-old stone animals along the autumn-golden avenue of the first Ming tomb.

Circle Xuanwu Lake by sunset

The lake inside the city wall, with Jiming Temple's tower on the hill — the classic Nanjing evening stroll.

Eat duck in every form

Nanjing's salted duck, roast duck and duck-blood soup — the city's claim as the duck capital of China.

Top Highlightswhat Nanjing does best

No.1
Sun Yat-sen MausoleumThe 392 steps of the blue-tiled hall on Purple Mountain — the resting place of the Republic's founder, free and magnificent.
No.2
Ming Xiaoling & the sacred wayThe tomb of the first Ming emperor — the stone-elephant avenue of 600-year-old beasts is the most photographed walk in Nanjing.
No.3
Confucius Temple & the QinhuaiThe temple quarter of the scholars and the lantern boats of the river — the "golden powder of six dynasties", best after dark.
No.4
Xuanwu Lake & Jiming TempleThe city's great lake, with Jiming's tower above the willows — the sunset loop of old Nanjing.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Nanjing

Are the Nanjing tickets expensive?

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Xuanwu Lake are free. Ming Xiaoling is ¥70 (includes the Purple Grotto, the sacred way and Plum Blossom Hill); the Qinhuai boat is ¥60 by day, ¥80 by night; the city wall is about ¥50 by section.

How many days do I need in Nanjing?

Two days cover the essentials — the Zhongshan sights (Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling) on day one, the old city (Confucius Temple, Xuanwu Lake, the wall) on day two. A third day adds the Yangtze Bridge, the Presidential Palace and the Memorial Hall.

When is the best time?

Spring (March–April) brings the plane trees green and the plum blossoms; autumn (October–November) turns the sacred way golden. Summer is hot, winter damp — but the Qinhuai lanterns glow year-round.

Where should I stay?

The Confucius Temple quarter is the atmospheric base for the river nights; Xinjiekou is the central shopping district; the Zhongshan area suits quiet mornings at the mausoleums.

How do I reach Nanjing?

Nanjing South is a high-speed hub — 1 h 15 from Shanghai, 1 h from Hangzhou, 3.5–4 h from Beijing. Nanjing Lukou Airport is 35 km south. The metro covers all the main sights.

What should I eat?

Salted duck, roast duck, duck-blood soup with vermicelli, the "eight delicacies" of the Qinhuai and the sweet soup dumplings of the old town — Nanjing cooks duck better than anywhere.

Sample Itinerariesmausoleums, the walled lake and river nights

Nanjing Classic 2-Day Tour

Zhongshan's mausoleums on day one, the walled old city and the Qinhuai lanterns on day two. View the plan →

Day 1

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum – Ming Xiaoling sacred way – Purple Mountain

Day 2

Confucius Temple – Xuanwu Lake – City Wall – Qinhuai night boat

Nanjing 3-Day with the Republic Quarter

Two days of the classics, then the Presidential Palace, the Yangtze Bridge and the lanes of the old Republic capital. View the plan →

Day 1

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum – Ming Xiaoling

Day 2

Confucius Temple – Xuanwu Lake – Qinhuai night

Day 3

Presidential Palace – Yangtze Bridge – old Republic lanes

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Nanjing itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

The 392-step ascent to the blue-tiled hall of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic — set against Purple Mountain's plane-tree avenues and free to visit, the great civic monument of modern China.

Free · 08:30–17:00 (closed Mondays) · Mausoleum · 2.5 h · 2.5 h

View details →

Ming Xiaoling (Ming Xiao Ling)

The tomb of the first Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang — the 615 m stone-elephant sacred way of 600-year-old beasts, the golden archway and the burial mound under Purple Mountain.

RMB 70 · 06:30–18:30 (seasonal) · Imperial tomb · 3 h · 3 h

View details →

Confucius Temple & the Qinhuai River

The scholars' temple quarter of six dynasties — the lantern arcade, the painted boats and the river of "golden powder", the most atmospheric night walk in Nanjing.

Temple & quarter free; boat ¥60 day / ¥80 night · Boat 09:00–23:30 · Old quarter · 3 h · 3 h

View details →

Xuanwu Lake & Jiming Temple

The city's great lake inside the Ming wall — five islets, willow causeways and Jiming's tower on the hill above, the classic sunset loop.

Free · 06:00–22:00 · Lake park · 2 h · 2 h

View details →

The Presidential Palace

The seat of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Qing governor and the Republic — the gardens and halls of China's most contested address, on the plane-tree avenue of the old capital.

RMB 40 · 08:30–17:00 · Historic site · 2.5 h · 2.5 h

View details →

Qinhuai night boat

The painted lantern boats of the river — past the white-wall galleries, the old exam hall and the bridges of the scholars' quarter, the classic Nanjing evening.

RMB 60 day / 80 night · 09:00–23:30 · Boat ride · 1 h · 1 h

View details →

More in the region on the Jiangsu attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsboats, mausoleum mornings and lake sunsets

Qinhuai night boat

The lantern boats run to 23:30 — the river at its most beautiful with the arcade lit and the bridges reflected.

Mausoleum dawn walk

The 392 steps before the crowds — early mornings on Purple Mountain are quiet, cool and golden.

Xuanwu Lake sunset loop

The lake's islets and causeways at golden hour, with Jiming's tower above — the favourite evening walk of local Nanjing.

Duck banquet & the eight delicacies

The Qinhuai's famous "eight delicacies" and the duck tables of the old town — the culinary tour of the ancient capital.

Where to Staythe old quarter, the centre and the lake

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Jiangsu hotels directory.

Confucius Temple quarter

The atmospheric base for the river nights — boutique hotels among the lanterns and boats, from about ¥400.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Xinjiekou central district

The shopping and metro hub of modern Nanjing — hotels for every budget, from about ¥300.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Zhongshan / Purple Mountain

Quiet hotels near the mausoleum avenues — mornings among the plane trees, from about ¥450.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Railway-area hotels

Convenient options near Nanjing South station for high-speed travellers, from about ¥280.

Book: Jiangsu hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe duck capital of China

Salted duck

The city's signature — duck cured, poached and served cold, "Nanjing salted duck" is the pride of the old town.

Duck-blood vermicelli soup

The working-class classic — duck blood, vermicelli and a rich duck broth, served steaming from the street kitchens.

Roast duck

Nanjing's crisp-skin roast duck, carved at the table and dipped in the dark sauce — the other great duck of the city.

The Qinhuai eight delicacies

The scholars' quarter's famous eight — from sweet dumplings to the salted duck platter, served as the full old-town spread.

Tangbao soup dumplings

The Jiangsu soup buns — thin-skinned, broth-filled and eaten carefully with ginger vinegar.

Shopping & Souvenirscloud brocade, rain-flower stones and the old-town sweets

Nanjing cloud brocade (Yunjin)

The imperial silk weave of the Ming and Qing courts — the Yunjin Museum shop sells the finest pieces in China.

Rain-flower stones (Yuhua Shi)

The smooth striped pebbles of the Yuhuatai hills — polished stones and carved ornaments, the classic Nanjing keepsake.

Salted duck & preserves

Vacuum-packed salted ducks and the city's pickled specialities — the edible souvenirs of the old town.

Lacquer fans & crafts

The scholars' fans, lacquer boxes and wood carvings of the Confucius Temple craft lanes.

Full local-product guides live on the Jiangsu specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundthe high-speed hub, the airport and the metro

Nanjing South is one of China's great rail hubs — 1 h 15 from Shanghai, 1 h from Hangzhou, 3.5–4 h from Beijing; the metro links every station to the city.

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Nanjing Lukou International Airport (35 km south) serves domestic and international routes; the S1 metro line and airport buses reach the city in 40–60 minutes.

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The coach stations at the railway terminals link Nanjing with the Yangtze Delta cities and the provinces west and south.

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By metro

Ten metro lines cover the mausoleums (Line 2), the old quarter (Lines 1, 3) and the lake — single rides ¥2–7.

By taxi

Taxis start at ¥11; most sights sit within ¥15–30 of the centre, and ride apps work across the city.

By car

The G2, G25 and G42 ring the city; the mausoleum and lake lots fill on weekends — take the metro to Zhongshan on golden weeks.

Day Trips From NanjingZhenjiang, Yangzhou and the Yangtze

Zhenjiang Three Mountains (1 day)

Jinshan, Jiaoshan and the Xijin Ferry — 50 minutes by rail across the river.

Yangzhou Gardens (1 day)

Slender West Lake and the Five-Pavilion Bridge — about 1 h 20 by high-speed rail.

Suzhou Gardens (1 day)

The garden city of the south — Humble Administrator's Garden and Tiger Hill, 1 h 15 by rail.

Tangshan Hot Springs (1 day)

The hot-spring resort of the eastern hills — pools, spa hotels and the mountain air, 40 minutes from the city.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Mausoleum before the buses

Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum fills after 10:00 — climb the 392 steps at opening for the quiet blue-tiled hall.

2 · Ming Xiaoling on a weekday

The sacred way is a weekend magnet — go midweek and take the side path for the empty golden avenue.

3 · Metro beats the golden-week traffic

Purple Mountain's roads close to private cars on peak days — Line 2 to the scenic area is the reliable way.

4 · Boat early or late

The Qinhuai boats queue at 19:00–20:00 — take the 21:00 boats for the lanterns without the crush.

5 · Bring ID for discounts

Students and seniors get half price at Ming Xiaoling and the palace with passport or student ID.

Background & Historyten capitals in one walled city

Geography & climate

Nanjing sits where the Yangtze turns south, ringed by the Purple Mountain and the city wall — the largest surviving city wall in the world. Subtropical, with plum rain in June and the golden plane trees of October–November.

History & culture

Capital of ten dynasties from the Three Kingdoms' Wu to the Republic of China, Nanjing is the deep memory of China — the Qinhuai of the poets, the Ming Xiaoling of the first emperor, and the mausoleum of the Republic's founder.

The plane trees of Zhongshan

The 40 km of French plane trees were planted in 1929 for Sun Yat-sen's funeral procession — the green tunnels of Purple Mountain are now the beloved signature of the city.

Plan Your Nanjing Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Nanjing trip lives on the site.

Nanjing Travel Guide — the Ancient Capital of Ten Dynasties

Nanjing Bucket Listthe little things that make Nanjing unforgettable

Walk the plane-tree avenues of Zhongshan

Climb to Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Row the Qinhuai River at night

Walk the stone elephants of Ming Xiaoling

Circle Xuanwu Lake by sunset

Eat duck in every form

Top Highlightswhat Nanjing does best

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Ming Xiaoling & the sacred way

Confucius Temple & the Qinhuai

Xuanwu Lake & Jiming Temple

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Nanjing

Are the Nanjing tickets expensive?

How many days do I need in Nanjing?

When is the best time?

Where should I stay?

How do I reach Nanjing?

What should I eat?

Sample Itinerariesmausoleums, the walled lake and river nights

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & Festivalsboats, mausoleum mornings and lake sunsets

Qinhuai night boat

Mausoleum dawn walk

Xuanwu Lake sunset loop

Duck banquet & the eight delicacies

Where to Staythe old quarter, the centre and the lake

Confucius Temple quarter

Xinjiekou central district

Zhongshan / Purple Mountain

Railway-area hotels

Food & Restaurantsthe duck capital of China

Salted duck

Duck-blood vermicelli soup

Roast duck

The Qinhuai eight delicacies

Tangbao soup dumplings

Shopping & Souvenirscloud brocade, rain-flower stones and the old-town sweets

Nanjing cloud brocade (Yunjin)

Rain-flower stones (Yuhua Shi)

Salted duck & preserves

Lacquer fans & crafts

Getting There & Aroundthe high-speed hub, the airport and the metro

Nanjing South is one of China's great rail hubs — 1 h 15 from Shanghai, 1 h from Hangzhou, 3.5–4 h from Beijing; the metro links every station to the city.

Nanjing Lukou International Airport (35 km south) serves domestic and international routes; the S1 metro line and airport buses reach the city in 40–60 minutes.

The coach stations at the railway terminals link Nanjing with the Yangtze Delta cities and the provinces west and south.

By metro

By taxi

By car

Day Trips From NanjingZhenjiang, Yangzhou and the Yangtze

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · Mausoleum before the buses

2 · Ming Xiaoling on a weekday

3 · Metro beats the golden-week traffic

4 · Boat early or late

5 · Bring ID for discounts

Background & Historyten capitals in one walled city

Geography & climate

History & culture

The plane trees of Zhongshan

Plan Your Nanjing Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place