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2-Day Nanjing Itinerary

2-Day Nanjing Itinerary

TL;DR — Two days in Nanjing (南京) covers the Ming-era foundations (Ming Xiaoling Tomb, City Wall, Confucius Temple), the 20th-century weight (Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, Presidential Palace), and one Qinhuai River evening. Stay near Xinjiekou (新街口) for metro access. Total mid-range cost: ~¥1,200–1,600 per person (excl. hotel).

Day 1: Ming dynasty foundations + 20th century

Morning (08:00–13:00): Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum & Ming Xiaoling

  • 08:00 — Metro Line 2 to Muxuyuan Station (苜蓿园站), 25 min from Xinjiekou.
  • 08:30 — Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (中山陵), free entry, ID required. Climb the 392 steps to the marble statue of Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), founder of the Republic of China. Allow 1.5 hours. The view of the Purple Mountain (紫金山) from the top is the payoff.
  • 10:30 — Walk 10 min to Ming Xiaoling Tomb (明孝陵), UNESCO World Heritage, ¥70 entry. The tomb of the Hongwu Emperor (朱元璋, 1328–1398), founder of the Ming Dynasty. The 1,800 m Spirit Way lined with stone animals and mandarins is the highlight. Allow 2 hours.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at the Purple Mountain foot restaurants: try Nanjing salted duck (盐水鸭), the city's signature dish, at Deji Plaza (德基广场) or a local canteen.

Afternoon (14:00–17:30): Presidential Palace

  • 14:00 — Metro to Dashijie Station (大行宫站), then 5 min walk.
  • 14:15 — Presidential Palace (总统府), ¥35 entry. Five governments in one complex: Ming imperial garden, Qing governor's office, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Heavenly King Palace (1853–1864), Sun Yat-sen's Republic presidency, and the early PRC municipal government. Allow 2.5 hours. The 4D movie is ¥30 extra but worthwhile.
  • 17:00 — Walk to Jiangning Imperial Silk Museum (江宁织造博物馆) (free, 1 hour) or Deji Plaza for coffee.

Evening (18:00–22:00): Confucius Temple + Qinhuai River

  • 18:00 — Metro to Fuzimao Station (夫子庙站) on Line 3.
  • 18:30 — Confucius Temple (夫子庙) area pedestrian zone, free to walk. The temple itself is ¥30 if you want to enter.
  • 19:00 — Dinner at De Yue Building (德月楼) or Qinhuai Renjia (秦淮人家): try duck blood and vermicelli soup (鸭血粉丝汤), pan-fried buns (生煎包), and sweet tangyuan (汤圆).
  • 20:30 — Qinhuai River cruise (秦淮河画舫), ¥80, 40 min. The night lights on the river are the famous Nanjing view.

Day 2: 20th-century history + Old Nanjing

Morning (08:30–12:00): Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

  • 08:30 — Metro Line 2 to Yunjin Lu Station (云锦路站), exit 2. Walk 5 min.
  • 09:00 — Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆), free entry, ID required. English audio guide ¥20. Open Tue–Sun 08:30–17:00. Closed Mondays — plan accordingly. Allow 2.5 hours. Three main halls: the outdoor mass-grave excavation site, the documentary hall, and the "12 Seconds" exhibit. No photos in the inner halls. Behave with full solemnity.
  • 12:00 — Lunch in the area: Lifeng Yuan (丽丰园) for simple Jiangsu cuisine.

Afternoon (13:30–18:00): Nanjing Museum + City Wall

  • 13:30 — Metro to Minggugong Station (明故宫站).
  • 14:00 — Nanjing Museum (南京博物院), free entry, one of China's top 3 museums. Six galleries: prehistoric, bronze, porcelain, silk, painting, modern history. The Digital Museum interactive section is family-friendly. Allow 2.5 hours.
  • 16:30 — Metro or taxi to Zhonghua Gate (中华门).
  • 17:00 — Ming City Wall at Zhonghua Gate (中华门城堡), ¥50 entry. The most intact section of the 33.4 km Ming-era city wall — the longest in the world. Four nested defensive gates (the only one of its kind in China). Allow 1 hour.

Evening (optional)

  • 19:00 — 1912 Block (1912街区), a Republican-era style bar and restaurant district near the Presidential Palace. Drinks and live music.
  • 20:30 — Impression of Nanjing (印象南京) performance at the Linggu Temple area (if scheduled) or a quieter evening at the Xinjiekou (新街口) underground shopping mall.

Practical info

  • Airport: Nanjing Lukou (NKG) — metro Line S1 to South Station, 35 min, ¥7.
  • Train: Nanjing South and Nanjing Station both on the Beijing–Shanghai HSR line. Shanghai Hongqiao: 1.5h, ¥140. Hangzhou: 1h, ¥120. Beijing: 4.5h, ¥450. Hefei: 1h, ¥100.
  • Metro: 11 lines, ¥2–5 per ride. Tap with Alipay or WeChat at the gate.
  • Hotels: Stay near Xinjiekou (新街口) metro hub. Mid-range: ¥350–600/night. Jinjiang Inn (锦江之星) Xinjiekou is a clean budget pick. Sofitel Nanjing Galaxy (索菲特银河) is a luxury anchor.
  • Best season: March–May and September–November. Avoid June–August (35°C+ humidity, "furnace city"). Winters are damp but rarely below 0°C.
  • What to skip: The Confucius Temple area is heavy on tourist-trap souvenir shops. Eat there for atmosphere but don't expect authenticity. Linggu Temple (灵谷寺) is lovely but skip if tight on time — the Sun Yat-sen + Ming Xiaoling combo gives you 80% of the same value.

Budget estimate

| Item | Per person (CNY) | |---|---| | Hotel (1 night, mid-range) | 350–600 | | Food (2 days) | 200–350 | | Transport (metro + bus) | 50 | | Tickets (Xiaoling, Presidential Palace, City Wall, Confucius Temple) | 185 | | Qinhuai River cruise | 80 | | Total (excl. international flight) | 865–1,265 |

Add-on day (3rd day)

If you have a 3rd day, add a Yangzhou (扬州) day trip (1h HSR, ¥45) for Slender West Lake (瘦西湖), the Ge Garden (个园), and the morning tea (早茶) tradition of dim sum at Yechun (冶春) Tea House. Yangzhou is the slow-tourism contrast to Nanjing's heavier history.

Verify with: the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall site (njmuseum.com) for opening hours and Monday closures, the Nanjing Museum site (njmuseum.com) for special exhibits, and 12306.cn for train tickets.