Short answer
Day one goes east to Purple Mountain: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum first, then the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and its Sacred Way, then down to the Qinhuai riverfront at Fuzimiao for the evening. Day two stays in the centre: Nanjing Museum in the morning, the Presidential Palace after lunch, then Laomendong and the city wall, finishing back at the riverfront.
Both days are heavy on walking. Purple Mountain is 31 square kilometres with the sights spread across it, and the mausoleum stairway alone is 392 steps. Use the sightseeing buses inside the park.
Before either day, sort out the reservations. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Nanjing Museum are free but need an advance real-name booking, the Presidential Palace needs a timed one, and all three, plus the Massacre Memorial Hall, close on Mondays.
Book these before you arrive
Nanjing's reservation system is the biggest source of wasted mornings. Two of the best sights are free, which sounds easy and is not: the free slots are released in batches and taken quickly.
| Booking | Channel | When to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (free) | Official Zhongshan scenic area WeChat account, or on-site machines | As soon as your date is fixed |
| Nanjing Museum (free) | Nanjing Museum WeChat mini-program | Slots released a few days ahead; book on release |
| Presidential Palace (¥35) | Official WeChat account, real-name timed entry | A few days ahead |
| Massacre Memorial Hall (free) | Official WeChat account | 1 to 7 days ahead |
| Ming Xiaoling, Linggu, Meiling Palace | At the gate, or the scenic area mini-program | Same day |
| Train tickets | 12306 English site or app | As soon as dates are set |
Day one: Purple Mountain and the Qinhuai riverfront
Take Metro Line 2 east and get off at Muxuyuan for the mausoleum, or Xiamafang to walk in from the south. A sightseeing bus or a 20-minute walk covers the rest.
Morning: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 and the mausoleum was built between 1926 and 1929 to a design by Lü Yanzhi, who did not live to see it finished. The layout runs straight up the mountain: a memorial archway, a stairway of 392 steps, then the memorial hall and the vault. The tomb chamber is not open to the public.
Climb slowly and turn around on the way up. The stairway is designed so the steps disappear behind you and the plain below opens out. Allow 90 minutes to two hours. The mausoleum closes on Mondays for maintenance, except on national holidays and on Sun Yat-sen's birth and death anniversaries.
Late morning: Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
The tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, and Empress Ma, begun in 1381 and finished in stages over the following decades. It joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2003 as part of the Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The part most visitors remember is the Sacred Way, the 600-metre approach lined with pairs of stone animals and officials. Walk it in the direction the tomb faces. The gate price is ¥70.
Lunch on the mountain
Food inside the scenic area is limited and overpriced. Eat before you go up, or carry something.
Afternoon: pick one more
| Option | Why | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Linggu Scenic Area | Quiet wooded temple valley, the Beamless Hall, and the pagoda | ¥35 |
| Meiling Palace | Chiang Kai-shek's villa, a small and well-preserved Republican-era interior | ¥30 |
| Open-Air Music Hall | A short stop, striking shell-shaped bandstand in the trees | ¥10 |
| Purple Mountain cableway | Ride to the ridge for a view over the city, weather permitting | Ticket price at the gate |
Two paid sights plus the mausoleum is a full day. The ¥100 combined ticket pays off if you want three or more of the four paid sights.
Evening: Fuzimiao and the Qinhuai river
Metro Line 3 to Fuzimiao puts you at the edge of the Qinhuai riverfront, where Nanjing looks its best. The Confucius Temple area is a rebuilt commercial and temple district on both banks, lit up after dark with boats on the water.
Walk the riverfront north and south of the main bridge, past the lanterns and food stalls. Then take a Qinhuai boat cruise if the queue is reasonable: it is a separate paid attraction with a daytime and a night price, and the night run is the one worth paying for.
Eat here too. Duck blood and vermicelli soup, soup dumplings and salted duck are sold along the streets.
Day two: the old capital centre
Line 2 to Minggugong for the museum, then Line 2 or 3 to Daxinggong for the Presidential Palace.
Morning: Nanjing Museum
One of China's largest museums, free for the permanent halls, and organised as several halls rather than one building: history, art, special exhibitions, an intangible heritage hall and a Republican-era street scene on the lower level. Admission is reservation-only, and the museum closes on Mondays except public holidays.
Give it three hours and be selective. The history hall and the Republican-era street are the two most visitors rate highest.
Afternoon: the Presidential Palace
Full price is ¥35, and the compound is bigger than it looks. It holds three layers of history inside one wall: a Qing-era garden and administrative office, the palace of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the 1850s and 1860s, and the seat of the Republic of China government from 1927 until 1949. Sun Yat-sen was sworn in as provisional president here on 1 January 1912.
Hours are seasonal: 08:30 to 18:00 with last entry at 17:00 in the longer season, 08:30 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00 in the shorter one. Closed Mondays except statutory holidays. It needs a real-name timed booking, and a passport works as the ID. It is a five-minute walk from Exit 5 at Daxinggong on Lines 2 and 3. Allow two hours.
Late afternoon: the city wall and Laomendong
Nanjing's Ming wall was built from 1366 under Zhu Yuanzhang, ran about 35 kilometres in its original circuit, and around 25 kilometres still stand, making it the longest surviving ancient brick city wall anywhere. The section that matters most to visitors is the southern line between Dongshuiguan and Jiqingmen, which includes Zhonghua Gate.
Zhonghua Gate is a barbican: a fortress in front of the gate itself, with three successive courtyards, four archways, and 27 concealed chambers built in that could shelter a garrison. Walk the top of the wall for a view over the old city and the new skyline at once. Wall sections are ticketed separately at different prices; the standard window is 08:30 to 17:00, with later ticket sales on the Zhonghua Gate stretch for the night view.
Next to it, Laomendong is a restored lane district of traditional buildings, free to walk, and a good place to eat dinner away from the Fuzimiao crowds. Nearest station: Wudingmen, Line 3.
If you have a third day
Add the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. Free, booking required one to seven days ahead, closed Mondays. Metro Line 2 to Yunjin Road, Exit 2. Allow two to three hours, and bring your passport.
Getting around
| Route | Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Centre to Purple Mountain | Line 2 east | Muxuyuan or Xiamafang, then sightseeing bus or walk |
| Purple Mountain to Fuzimiao | Line 2, change to Line 3 | Roughly 40 minutes |
| Centre to Nanjing Museum | Line 2 | Minggugong station, short walk to the entrance |
| Museum to Presidential Palace | Line 2 west | Daxinggong, Exit 5 |
| Presidential Palace to Zhonghua Gate | Line 3 south | Zhonghuamen |
| To the airport | Line S1 | From Nanjing South, roughly 35 to 40 minutes |
Fares are distance-based from about ¥2, up to roughly ¥7 to ¥10 for the longest trips. Pay with the Alipay or WeChat transport QR code, or buy a token at a machine. More on wallets is in the paying in China guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is two days enough for Nanjing?
It covers the three main clusters: Purple Mountain, the old centre with the Presidential Palace and museum, and the Qinhuai riverfront. You will move at a fair pace. Three days lets you add the Massacre Memorial Hall.
Which day should I do first?
Purple Mountain first if the weather is clear, because the climb is the part most affected by rain and haze. Otherwise do the museum and the Presidential Palace on whichever day is not a Monday, since both close then.
Do I need to book Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in advance?
Yes. Entry is free but the scenic area runs a real-name reservation system, and the mausoleum is the one part of Purple Mountain that requires it. Book through the official Zhongshan scenic area channels, or use the on-site machines with your passport.
Can I see both Purple Mountain and Fuzimiao in one day?
Yes, and this itinerary does exactly that. Start early on the mountain, leave by late afternoon, and take Line 2 into Line 3 for Fuzimiao. The riverfront is at its best after dark.
How much walking is involved?
A lot. The mausoleum stairway is 392 steps, the Sacred Way is about 600 metres, and Purple Mountain's sights are spread over 31 square kilometres. Use the sightseeing buses and wear shoes you have already broken in.
What should I do on a Monday in Nanjing?
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum, the Presidential Palace and the Massacre Memorial Hall all close on Mondays. Spend the day on the Ming city wall, at Fuzimiao and Laomendong, or on the outdoor paths of Purple Mountain including the Sacred Way.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
Xinjiekou, where Lines 1 and 2 cross, is the most practical base: Line 2 reaches Purple Mountain and the museum directly, and Line 3 reaches Fuzimiao and Zhonghua Gate. Fuzimiao suits a riverfront-on-your-doorstep trip.
Is the Qinhuai boat cruise worth it?
At night, yes. The daytime run costs less but the lights are the attraction. Buy at the dock, check the current daytime and night prices there, and skip it if the queue is long.
Related reading
Opening hours and ticket prices follow the published guides from the Zhongshan Mountain National Park administration, the Nanjing municipal government and the operators of each site, and are current as of September 2026. Reservation windows, seasonal hours and fares change; confirm on the official channel before you travel.