Carry the original passport
Use one passport consistently for hotel, rail, museum and attraction reservations. At stations and real-name gates, the original travel document is the reliable proof of identity.
Official foreign-traveller guide →Give the mountain, the museum and the old city their own days.
Nanjing is not a compact “old-town walk.” Zhongshan Mountain is a real outdoor day; the museum needs a reserved morning; Qinhuai and Laomendong work best when the lights come on. These plans stop you from racing between sites that happen to share a city name.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
One illustrated map before you choose
The map separates Nanjing into useful visiting zones: the Purple Mountain Scenic Area in the east, Xuanwu and the station area in the north, Qinhuai’s old-city sites in the south, and riverside/urban neighbourhoods to the west.
TOP SIGHTS
What to see in Nanjing
Confucian Temple & Qinhuai River
Confucian Temple (Fuzimiao) guide: the free old-town lanes, the Qinhuai boat ride (~¥95–120), lanterns, snacks…
Read guide →Dabao'en Temple
Dabao'en Temple guide: the glass replica of the lost Porcelain Pagoda (~¥90), the excavated Ming ruins, how to…
Read guide →Nanjing Museum
Nanjing Museum guide: free timed tickets, the Republic-era street hall, the best collections, closed Mondays…
Read guide →Niushoushan
Niushoushan guide: the #1-rated Foding Palace and its underground relic chamber (~¥139), the glass pagoda, how…
Read guide →Presidential Palace
Presidential Palace guide: the former ROC government HQ (~¥35), the gardens and exhibits, how to get there, and…
Read guide →Xuanwu Lake
Xuanwu Lake guide: the free walled city lake, the five islets, boating and walks, how to get there, and…
Read guide →Zhongshan Mountain & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Zhongshan Mountain guide: the free Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling (~¥70), the scenery road, how to get…
Read guide →BEFORE YOU GO
Nanjing essentials for foreign visitors
The most common Nanjing problems are practical: wrong rail station, no museum reservation, a mountain day planned in summer heat, or a hotel too far from the metro. Solve those before the first sightseeing morning.
Reserve Nanjing Museum first
The museum is a major draw and high demand is normal. Book the current available session with passport details, confirm the branch and keep the whole morning open for it.
Open the museum guide →Zhongshan Mountain is a full day
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling and the surrounding park require steps, shuttle decisions and weather tolerance. Start early and choose two priorities rather than trying to complete every landmark.
See the mountain-day timing →Save Nanjing South correctly
Nanjing South is the main high-speed-rail hub; Nanjing Railway Station is a different station. Save the Chinese station name, train number and your exact exit before booking a car.
Official rail and metro guidance →Use metro plus short walks
Nanjing’s metro is bilingual and practical. Activate city transport in Alipay or buy tickets at the station, then save the Chinese attraction entrance—not only an English title—to avoid a long wrong-side walk.
See the five-day transport plan →Set up payment before arrival
Link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay and keep small RMB cash. This covers food stalls, metro backups, temples and any merchant that cannot handle your foreign card.
Official overseas payment guide →Stay central and metro-close
Xinjiekou works for a first visit; Fuzimiao suits evening canal access; Xuanwu is quieter and greener. Show your passport at a foreign-guest-capable hotel and retain its Chinese address.
Official accommodation registration →Plan summer and rain realistically
Nanjing can be very hot and humid. Put mountain steps and outdoor gates early, keep water and sun protection with you, and swap in a museum or covered old-city stop when heavy rain arrives.
Open the flexible seven-day plan →Visit memory sites with care
The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall is a place of remembrance, not an entertainment stop. Check the current reservation rules, give it unhurried time and follow its photography and behaviour guidance.
See the considered history day →Planning information checked 10 Aug 2026. Reconfirm live ticket releases, temporary controls, weather, rail-station details and opening hours before travel.