7 days in Nanjing
A slow first week for imperial layers, republican streets, river-city gates and a full excursion to Qixia—without forcing good days into bad weather.
A full week turns Nanjing into a place rather than a sequence of monuments. Days 1–5 cover the reliable core. Day 6 develops the southern old city at walking pace; Day 7 is Qixia or a weather/energy buffer.
Zhongshan Mountain
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum → Ming Xiaoling or Meiling Palace → return.
Start early, choose two priorities and use current shuttle information. This keeps the mountain a meaningful day rather than a series of late arrivals.
Nanjing Museum and Qinhuai
Nanjing Museum → rest → Confucius Temple and river lights.
Reserve the museum with passport details, then let the old city come after dark. Keeping the day split prevents both the museum and Qinhuai from becoming shallow photo stops.
Niushoushan
Niushoushan → central return → optional Xuanwu Lake.
Confirm the ticket, gate, shuttles and current access. Give temple spaces quiet time; do not add another distant monument after the return journey.
Xuanwu, Jiming and the wall
Xuanwu Lake → Jiming Temple → a selected Ming wall/gate.
Walk a realistic lake segment, follow temple rules and choose one city-wall entry. In wet weather, move this to Day 7 and use an indoor neighbourhood day instead.
History and republican Nanjing
Memorial Hall if prepared → Yihe Road / Gulou → quiet evening.
Make the Memorial Hall an unhurried, respectful choice after checking its live booking procedure. Balance it with a low-key walk in the Gulou or Yihe Road area rather than forcing another heavy attraction.
Southern old city, at walking pace
Laomendong → Zhonghua Gate → Dabao'en Temple → Qinhuai evening.
09:30 — start in Laomendong
Use this day to experience old-city fabric rather than repeat the previous night’s lantern route. Begin at Laomendong, look for small workshops and local food, and compare prices before buying souvenirs.
13:30 — city gate and temple museum
Walk or take a short ride to Zhonghua Gate, then decide whether the Great Bao'en Temple is worth a paid, timed visit for you. Keep both stops on the same side of the old city rather than crossing town again.
Evening — Qinhuai only if you still want it
Return to the river for an evening view only if it adds something new. Otherwise choose a normal dinner and preserve your legs for Qixia or departure.
Move: save 老门东, 中华门 and 大报恩寺遗址景区 in Chinese. Check current tickets and last entry before travelling.
Qixia Mountain—or the smart weather swap
Qixia Mountain and Temple → return early, or use this as your clear-day buffer.
Make the excursion only when it improves the week
Qixia is more rewarding as a slower excursion, especially in autumn colour, but it is not compulsory for a first trip. Check transport, trail conditions, weather and your return time. If rain or heat makes it a bad idea, move the lake, wall or old-city route here instead.
Departure readiness
Use the final evening to confirm your exact rail station or NKG airport terminal, pack the original passport and booking details together, and leave buffer for security and a cross-city ride.
One-week Nanjing safety net
- Ticket order: museum first, mountain and temple tickets next, then flexible public spaces.
- Weather: mountain, lake and Qixia move to clear mornings; indoor history protects the plan.
- Transport: save every entrance and both railway-station names in Chinese.
- Food: use busy venues, communicate allergies clearly and keep water through humid months.
- Respect: memorials and active religious sites are not designed for fast, performative tourism.