How many days do I need in Nanjing?

Five days is the full shape. One day for the Presidential Palace, the Nanjing Museum and Xuanwu Lake. One for the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Meiling Palace and the Music Stage. One for Jiming Temple, the plane-tree avenues and Laomendong. One for the Massacre Memorial, Zhonghua Gate and the Qinhuai River. One for Niushoushan, Purple Mountain and Hexi New Town. Three days still works when Nanjing sits between Shanghai and a longer Beijing leg.

Nanjing follows mainland China entry rules. Ordinary Australian, British, New Zealand and Canadian passports have up to thirty days visa-free, confirmed through 31 December 2026, with many other nationalities qualifying under the broader scheme. United States passports still need a tourist visa under current rules. Tell us your nationality before we quote. We check the live entry wording against the embassy and foreign-affairs source for your country.

When is the best time to visit Nanjing?

Mid-March to early April for the Jiming Temple cherry-blossom avenue and the Xuanwu Lake spring shore. Late October to mid-November for the autumn canopy along the plane-tree avenues. April through May and September through October are the safest temperate windows. Nanjing is one of China's hot summer cities, with July and August routinely above 35 degrees and humid, so we avoid that window where possible. Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week are also avoided for crowd reasons.

How should I approach the Nanjing Massacre Memorial?

As a place of remembrance, not a sightseeing stop. We hold the visit for the morning, with a quieter entry slot booked, no group commentary near the wall of names and no photographs in the solemn zones. The documentary archive at the end carries the historical record. The rest of the day is kept light to follow.

How do I get from Nanjing to Shanghai, Suzhou or Beijing?

High-speed rail is the standard route. Nanjing South to Shanghai Hongqiao runs around 75 minutes on the fastest non-stop service, Suzhou is just over an hour, and Hangzhou East is around an hour on the dedicated Nanjing-Hangzhou line. Nanjing to Beijing South runs around three hours and thirteen minutes on the fastest service, and Xi'an North is just under five hours. Internal flights cover the longer western legs.

How do payments work in Nanjing for foreign travellers?

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. Both can bind many overseas Visa and Mastercard cards, but in-app limits and small-merchant acceptance still vary. Your guide can help with restaurant and ticket moments on the ground. Keep one bank card and a little cash for older Qinhuai stalls, smaller temple grounds and the odd snack house that still prefers it.

Will there be any forced shopping or factory visits in the itinerary?

No. No silk showroom, no tea-house sales pitch, no jade-factory detour. The route you approve is the route we brief. If a driver or guide suggests an unscheduled detour, you have a named specialist to contact. The figure on your quote is what you pay. The trip you read is the trip you take.

What is actually included when you quote a Nanjing trip?

Daily guide and driver, hotels at the category you approve, the internal flight or rail in or out if your trip spans multiple cities, daily breakfast, and every entrance ticket on the agreed route. Planned meals and optional costs are named before you confirm. Priced per person, up front, in the currency you switch the site to.

The Qinhuai canal at dusk by the Confucius Temple precinct, red-lacquered painted boats moored along the banks, lanterns lighting both shores

Destination · China

Nanjing

the southern capital, six dynasties deep

Nanjing has been a Chinese capital across six dynasties. Sun Yat-sen lies on Purple Mountain, 25 kilometres of Ming city wall still stand, and the painted boats still drift the Qinhuai canal past the Confucius Temple after dark.

Design my trip See the signature moments

Signature moments

Why people
come to Nanjing.

What to see

An aerial view down the long granite axis of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the bell-plan stepped halls reading at full length, Purple Mountain in green around it — Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum(Zhongshan Ling, the 1929 burial)
Nestled on the slopes of Purple Mountain, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is one of China's most revered historical landmarks, dedicated to the founding father of modern China.
A grand staircase leads visitors through magnificent architecture to sweeping views of Nanjing, while the peaceful surroundings reflect the nation's respect for Dr. Sun's enduring legacy.
For the best experience, we recommend visiting in the morning when the weather is cooler and the crowds are lighter. The climb to the summit is well worth the effort, rewarding you with spectacular panoramic views.

The famous aerial view of Meiling Palace from above, the plane trees forming a pendant-and-loop necklace around the residence, autumn colour, Nanjing — Meiling Palace(Xiaohongshan, the 1934 residence)
Hidden among the forests of Purple Mountain, Meiling Palace was once the elegant residence of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling.
Surrounded by lush greenery, this beautifully preserved villa combines traditional Chinese design with Western influences, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into one of China's most influential historical periods.
For the best experience, we recommend taking your time to explore both the palace and its peaceful gardens. The surrounding woodland provides a tranquil setting that perfectly complements the palace's rich history.

An aerial view of Music Stage from above, the fanned semi-circular steps and curved rear screen reading at full radius, autumn forest closing around the amphitheatre — Music Stage(Yinyue Tai, 1933, semi-circular open-air theatre)
Tucked within the scenic Zhongshan Scenic Area, the Music Stage is an elegant open-air amphitheatre surrounded by towering cedar trees.
Originally built for performances and ceremonies, it remains one of Nanjing's most picturesque landmarks. The peaceful atmosphere, graceful architecture and flocks of white doves create a truly memorable experience for every visitor.
For the best experience, we recommend visiting during the quieter hours to fully appreciate the peaceful surroundings. Don't miss the chance to watch the doves gather around the stage, creating a beautiful scene for photographs.

A long perspective down a Nanjing avenue, the twin rows of mature wutong plane trees arching into a green canopy tunnel overhead, painted trunk bases on either side — The plane-tree avenues(Wutong dadao, the 1929 canopy)
Lining many of Nanjing's historic streets, the iconic plane-tree avenues form beautiful green tunnels that have become one of the city's most recognisable sights.
Planted decades ago, these towering trees provide welcome shade while creating a picturesque landscape that changes beautifully with every season, especially during autumn.
For the best experience, we recommend enjoying a leisurely drive or walk beneath the trees in the early morning or late afternoon. The changing light and seasonal colours make this one of Nanjing's most photogenic experiences.

The arched colonial gateway of the Presidential Palace in Nanjing, the Republican-era courtyard complex behind — Presidential Palace(the Republican seat, 1912 to 1949)
Once the centre of China's modern political history, the Presidential Palace combines elegant classical gardens with grand government buildings that witnessed some of the nation's most significant events.
Rich in history and beautifully preserved, it offers visitors a fascinating journey through China's transformation from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China.
For the best experience, we recommend allowing ample time to explore both the historic buildings and tranquil gardens. An expert guide will help bring the stories behind this remarkable landmark to life.

An imperial Qing blue-ground vase with gilt trim and a central enamel cartouche, displayed against the dark wall of one of the Nanjing Museum's specialist halls — Nanjing Museum(Nanjing Bowuyuan, one of China's three big museums)
As one of China's largest and finest museums, the Nanjing Museum showcases an extraordinary collection of ancient treasures, priceless artworks and cultural relics spanning thousands of years.
From exquisite jade and porcelain to traditional calligraphy and historical artefacts, every gallery offers a deeper appreciation of China's remarkable civilisation.
For the best experience, we recommend setting aside several hours to explore the museum's extensive exhibitions. Each gallery reveals a different chapter of China's rich cultural heritage, making every visit rewarding.

Xuanwu Lake at dusk seen from the top of the Ming city wall, visitors climbing the rampart steps in the foreground, the islets, the boats and the Nanjing skyline under a pink-orange sunset behind — Xuanwu Lake(Xuanwu Hu, the imperial pleasure lake)
Surrounded by ancient city walls and lush gardens, Xuanwu Lake is one of Nanjing's most beautiful natural attractions.
Scenic walking paths, elegant bridges and charming islands create the perfect setting for a relaxing escape. Whether enjoying a boat ride or simply taking in the peaceful views, the lake offers a refreshing contrast to the bustling city.
For the best experience, we recommend visiting in the morning or around sunset when the lake is at its most tranquil. A leisurely walk along the shoreline provides stunning views in every direction.

Jiming Temple's yellow halls and pagoda on their low hill, a stretch of the Taicheng wall in the foreground and the Nanjing skyline behind — Jiming Temple(the cherry-blossom nunnery under the Taicheng wall)
With a history spanning more than 1,700 years, Jiming Temple is one of Nanjing's oldest and most celebrated Buddhist temples.
Beautiful halls, peaceful courtyards and panoramic views over Xuanwu Lake make it a place of both spiritual significance and architectural beauty. During spring, blooming cherry blossoms add even more charm to this historic sanctuary.
For the best experience, we recommend visiting in the morning to enjoy the temple's peaceful atmosphere. If travelling in spring, the surrounding cherry blossoms create one of Nanjing's most breathtaking seasonal displays.

Wu Weishan's bronze figure 'Family Ruined' standing in the entrance plaza of the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre, the grey stone façade of the museum rising behind — Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre(a place of remembrance, not a sight)
The Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre stands as a powerful tribute to the victims of one of the darkest chapters in modern history.
Through moving exhibitions, historical artefacts and thoughtful memorial spaces, it honours those who suffered while promoting peace, remembrance and understanding for future generations.
For the best experience, we recommend allowing sufficient time to thoughtfully explore the exhibitions and memorial grounds. Visiting with a guide can provide valuable historical context and a deeper understanding of this profoundly important site.

What to eat

A portion of Nanjing closed-oven roast duck with brine sauce poured over, dark lacquered skin visible at the cut — Nanjing roast duck(kao ya, the closed-oven version)
Nanjing roast duck is the dish Beijing duck split off from in the Ming, and the older method is still on the table here.
The cavity is brined with soy, spices, and rice wine, then the duck cooks in a closed wood-fired chamber by radiant heat rather than over flame. Skin is dark and lacquered, meat moist from the brine, the brine itself the savoury-sweet dipping sauce at the end.
We book at an old-line house that still fires its ducks in the closed wood chamber rather than over flame, and ask for half a roast duck and a quarter of salted duck on the same plate, so the two endpoints of Nanjing duck culture sit there in one comparison. Your guide opens with how to read the brine sauce against the lacquered skin before the chopsticks come up.

Nanjing salted duck sliced and packed into a takeaway container, the ivory-pale skin and cool simmered meat visible at every cut — Nanjing salted duck(yan shui ya, the autumn osmanthus version)
Nanjing salted duck is the other half of the city's duck table, and the autumn version is the one to plan a meal around.
The duck is dry-cured, brine-soaked, then simmered, never roasted, so the skin sets ivory-pale and the meat tightens into a clean, cool, ham-like bite. The finish reads saline-savoury with a faint floral lift when osmanthus is in season.
We book at an old-line house that still works the simmered method, and time the visit to the autumn osmanthus window when the brine reads at its most floral. Your guide brings out what to listen for in the first bite, the cool, clean saline-savoury that comes from simmer rather than roast, so the dish reads on its own terms rather than as a softer cousin of the roasted version.

A beef potsticker held up at the bite, lacquer-crisp golden crust shattered open, hand-chopped beef and juice visible inside, the rest of the plate behind — Qijiawan beef potstickers(niurou guotie, the Hui-Muslim lane snack)
Qijiawan is the old south-city lane that has been frying beef potstickers since the early Ming, settled then by seven Hui-Muslim families as the cattle-slaughtering quarter.
The filling is hand-chopped beef bound with rendered beef-fat, never pork. The pan is flooded with oil so the underside sets into a lacquer-crisp glaze that shatters at the first bite, while the top stays soft and the beef juice runs hot.
We pick the busy cooking window when the pans are turning over fast, and your guide briefs the Hui-Muslim back-story on the walk over from the Confucius Temple. A small order is split across two of the named lane houses, so the difference in filling and glaze reads side by side rather than blurring at one stall.

Shows and experiences

A red-lacquered painted boat lit with red lanterns gliding through the inner Qinhuai canal at night, Nanjing — Qinhuai painted-boat cruise(Hua Fang, from Panchi Wharf)
The Qinhuai painted-boat cruise is the way the Confucius Temple precinct has been seen for as long as the canal has been lit.
A 50-minute loop carries the boat from Panchi Wharf past Bailuzhou, the East Water Gate, the Zhonghua Gate, and back. Both banks burn with red lanterns through the run, and the canal stays calm enough for the painted hull to read in the water.
We book a chartered painted boat rather than the public ticket, so the route runs at your pace, with a guqin or sheng player set in the centre cabin on the premium option. The departure is timed for the dusk window when the lanterns first switch on. A quiet riverside terrace is set for an after-cruise tea.

The Zhonghua Gate barbican at night during the walk-through, projection-mapped imagery animating the brick of the four nested gates, a starburst of light playing across the plaza floor below — Zhonghua Gate after dark(an immersive walk-through inside the Ming barbican)
The Zhonghua Gate barbican carries a 25-minute walk-through after dark, inside the largest extant city gate in China.
Live actors in costume, 3D projection mapped onto the brick of the four nested gates, and Nanjing Baiju folk-song interludes carry three thematic zones: origin, reverence, light. The night run has been a fixture since 2023, ticketed separately from daytime wall admission.
We walk the barbican by daylight first, so your guide can point out the four enclosures, the troop tunnels, and the brick-makers' stamps before the projection animates the same stones after dark. The night ticket is booked for a mid-evening slot, and the car waits at the south gate so the return is short.

The 270-degree gold-lit beer wall at NIU Beer World Craft Beer Museum in Jianye's Wuyue Plaza, more than 1,400 bottles stacked in shelving toward the centre, Nanjing — NIU Beer World Craft Beer Museum(Jianye, the 270° beer wall)
NIU Beer is the craft-beer museum in Jianye's Wuyue Plaza, built around a 270-degree wall of 1,400 bottles lit gold from within.
The collection runs over 1,000 labels from more than 300 countries, with a working bar that pours what the tasting flights are built around.
We book a table in the bar section ahead of time and time the visit for the late afternoon before the dinner crowd. A tasting flight is arranged across four or five labels chosen against your palate, so the wall reads as a museum first and the bar opens up after.

How long to stay

Recommended
5 days.

City centre
Day 1: Republican halls, museum treasures, a lakeside evening.
Begin the morning at the Presidential Palace, where the Republican offices and the old classical gardens sit inside one walled complex. Spend the afternoon at the Nanjing Museum, moving from the recreated Republic-era street through the Han and Tang galleries. As evening falls, walk the shore of Xuanwu Lake, with the city skyline rising behind the islets and the Ming wall running along the western bank.
Morning
1. Explore the historic buildings of the Presidential Palace
2. Walk the classical gardens at the rear of the complex
Afternoon
1. Look through the collections of the Nanjing Museum
2. Wander the recreated Republic-era street
Evening
1. Stroll the shore of Xuanwu Lake
2. Watch the skyline light up across the water
Zhongshan Scenic Area
Day 2: Purple Mountain grandeur, unhurried afternoons.
Spend the morning at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, climbing the granite stairway to the memorial hall with the mountain green on every side. Continue to Meiling Palace, the 1934 residence set inside its famous ring of plane trees. As evening approaches, the Music Stage offers a quieter close, its fanned stone terraces and cedar forest holding the last of the light.
Morning
1. Climb the grand stairway at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
2. Look out over the mountain from the memorial hall
Afternoon
1. Visit the historic residence at Meiling Palace
2. Walk the plane-tree avenue on the approach
Evening
1. Enjoy the classical architecture of the Music Stage
Taicheng and the old south
Day 3: Temple mornings, tree-lined afternoons.
Begin the day at Jiming Temple, where the yellow halls sit above the Taicheng wall and the view opens across Xuanwu Lake. The afternoon is yours to wander the plane-tree avenues that shade Nanjing's older streets, with the option to continue to Linggu Temple and its pagoda in the forest. As evening falls, Laomendong brings the old south city alive with lantern-lit lanes and low timber shopfronts.
Morning
1. Visit the halls and courtyards of Jiming Temple
2. Look out over the city from the Taicheng wall
Afternoon
1. Walk the plane-tree avenues
2. Continue to Linggu Temple when time allows
Evening
1. Explore the lanes of the Laomendong historic district
West city and the old south
Day 4: Remembrance, ramparts, the lit canal.
The morning is given to the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre, a place of remembrance rather than a sight, with a quieter entry slot and the rest of the day kept light to follow. The afternoon moves to Zhonghua Gate, the largest surviving city gate in China, with its four nested enclosures and troop tunnels under the brick. As evening falls, the Qinhuai River lights up along both banks.
Morning
1. Visit the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre
2. Walk the memorial grounds and the documentary archive
Afternoon
1. Explore the nested enclosures of Zhonghua Gate
2. Walk a stretch of the Nanjing City Wall
Evening
1. Follow the lit riverside of the Qinhuai scenic area
2. Take a painted boat along the canal
Jiangning and Jianye
Day 5: Mountain halls, forest trails, a modern skyline.
Begin the day south of the city at Niushoushan, where the Usnisa Palace sits under a vast latticed dome between the twin peaks. Return to Purple Mountain for a relaxed afternoon on the forest trails, with viewpoints opening back over the city. As evening falls, Hexi New Town closes the trip on the other side of Nanjing, its waterfront and towers lit along the Yangtze.
Morning
1. Explore the Usnisa Palace at Niushoushan
2. Walk the mountain grounds between the twin peaks
Afternoon
1. Follow the forest trails of the Purple Mountain scenic area
2. Take in the panoramic viewpoints over the city
Evening
1. Enjoy the modern skyline and waterfront at Hexi New Town

Day 1: Republican halls, museum treasures, a lakeside evening.City centre

When to go

When to visit,
and how it feels.


Daily max (°F)	45°	50°	59°	71°	80°	85°	90°	89°	82°	73°	62°	50°
Rainfall (mm)	50	54	80	82	84	193	227	159	73	56	52	35
Crowds	Quiet	Busy	Crowded	Steady	Busy	Steady	Steady	Steady	Steady	Crowded	Busy	Quiet

April

Mild · Showery · Steady

Mild and green, with the plane trees in new leaf. One of the two best windows for a Nanjing stop.

Temperature and rainfall are China Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991 to 2020. Crowd levels follow the Chinese public-holiday calendar and the city's two seasonal draws, cherry blossom and autumn canopy.

Best time

Mid-March to early April; late October to mid-November

Days needed

5 days; 3 for a shorter stop

Where it sits

Shanghai 75 minutes by rail; Beijing 3 hours 13 minutes; Xi'an under 5 hours

Before you enquire

Questions worth
answering early.

Five days is the full shape. One day for the Presidential Palace, the Nanjing Museum and Xuanwu Lake. One for the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Meiling Palace and the Music Stage. One for Jiming Temple, the plane-tree avenues and Laomendong. One for the Massacre Memorial, Zhonghua Gate and the Qinhuai River. One for Niushoushan, Purple Mountain and Hexi New Town. Three days still works when Nanjing sits between Shanghai and a longer Beijing leg.
Nanjing follows mainland China entry rules. Ordinary Australian, British, New Zealand and Canadian passports have up to thirty days visa-free, confirmed through 31 December 2026, with many other nationalities qualifying under the broader scheme. United States passports still need a tourist visa under current rules. Tell us your nationality before we quote. We check the live entry wording against the embassy and foreign-affairs source for your country.
Mid-March to early April for the Jiming Temple cherry-blossom avenue and the Xuanwu Lake spring shore. Late October to mid-November for the autumn canopy along the plane-tree avenues. April through May and September through October are the safest temperate windows. Nanjing is one of China's hot summer cities, with July and August routinely above 35 degrees and humid, so we avoid that window where possible. Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week are also avoided for crowd reasons.
High-speed rail is the standard route. Nanjing South to Shanghai Hongqiao runs around 75 minutes on the fastest non-stop service, Suzhou is just over an hour, and Hangzhou East is around an hour on the dedicated Nanjing-Hangzhou line. Nanjing to Beijing South runs around three hours and thirteen minutes on the fastest service, and Xi'an North is just under five hours. Internal flights cover the longer western legs.

Designed around you and your companions

You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.

From your first enquiry to your last airport pickup, our specialists design your trip and stay in contact every step of the way. The guides, drivers and hotels you'll meet are part of our trusted network we've worked with for years, briefed to the same standards.

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Jack Guo

Your travel specialist

Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.

Design your Nanjing trip

Tell us your preferences and we'll plan a private itinerary in Nanjing that fits how you like to travel.

Nanjing

Why peoplecome to Nanjing.

What to see

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum(Zhongshan Ling, the 1929 burial)

Meiling Palace(Xiaohongshan, the 1934 residence)

Music Stage(Yinyue Tai, 1933, semi-circular open-air theatre)

The plane-tree avenues(Wutong dadao, the 1929 canopy)

Presidential Palace(the Republican seat, 1912 to 1949)

Nanjing Museum(Nanjing Bowuyuan, one of China's three big museums)

Xuanwu Lake(Xuanwu Hu, the imperial pleasure lake)

Jiming Temple(the cherry-blossom nunnery under the Taicheng wall)

Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre(a place of remembrance, not a sight)

What to eat

Nanjing roast duck(kao ya, the closed-oven version)

Nanjing salted duck(yan shui ya, the autumn osmanthus version)

Qijiawan beef potstickers(niurou guotie, the Hui-Muslim lane snack)

Shows and experiences

Qinhuai painted-boat cruise(Hua Fang, from Panchi Wharf)

Zhonghua Gate after dark(an immersive walk-through inside the Ming barbican)

NIU Beer World Craft Beer Museum(Jianye, the 270° beer wall)

Recommended5 days.

Day 1: Republican halls, museum treasures, a lakeside evening.

Day 2: Purple Mountain grandeur, unhurried afternoons.

Day 3: Temple mornings, tree-lined afternoons.

Day 4: Remembrance, ramparts, the lit canal.

Day 5: Mountain halls, forest trails, a modern skyline.

When to visit,and how it feels.

Questions worthanswering early.

How many days do I need in Nanjing?

What about a visa?

When is the best time to visit Nanjing?

How should I approach the Nanjing Massacre Memorial?

How do I get from Nanjing to Shanghai, Suzhou or Beijing?

How do payments work in Nanjing for foreign travellers?

Will there be any forced shopping or factory visits in the itinerary?

What is actually included when you quote a Nanjing trip?

You enjoy the trip,we do the rest.

Stretch the trip. Stitch in another.

Shanghai

Suzhou

Hangzhou

Useful beforeyou enquire.

China tourist visa for US travellers

When to visit China, month by month

How many days do you need in China

Payments and connectivity in China

How our pricing works

Jack Guo

Design your Nanjing trip

Nanjing

Where in China do you want to go?

Why people
come to Nanjing.

Recommended
5 days.

When to visit,
and how it feels.

Questions worth
answering early.

You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.

Useful before
you enquire.