Short answer
Nanjing is the former capital of the early Ming dynasty and of the Republic of China, and it sits on the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed line. Trains from Shanghai take a bit over an hour, from Suzhou about an hour, from Beijing three and a half to four and a half hours. The airport, Lukou, connects to the city by Metro Line S1 in around 35 to 40 minutes.
The sights fall into four clusters: Purple Mountain in the east (Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling, Linggu Temple), the Republican-era centre around the Presidential Palace and Nanjing Museum, the Qinhuai riverfront at Fuzimiao, and the riverside memorial hall in the southwest. Two full days covers the first three at a decent pace.
Two things decide how smoothly the trip goes. Several headline sights are free but reservation-only (Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum, the Massacre Memorial Hall), and the metro plus Alipay or WeChat Pay is the transport setup that works. Sort both out before you arrive.
Getting there
Nanjing has two main railway stations and both are on the metro. Nanjing South (Nanjingnan) is the high-speed hub in the south of the city, served by Metro Lines 1, 3, S1 and S3. Nanjing Station is north of the centre, on the shore of Xuanwu Lake, served by Lines 1 and 3.
| From | Typical high-speed time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai (Hongqiao) | 1h to 1h40 | Very frequent departures through the day |
| Suzhou | About 1h | Easy add-on city, same corridor |
| Beijing (South) | 3.5h to 4.5h | Direct G trains, book early for holidays |
| Hangzhou | Roughly 1.5h to 2.5h | Direct services, times vary by train |
| Airport (Lukou, NKG) | 35 to 40 min to Nanjing South | Metro Line S1, distance-based fare |
Booking runs through 12306, the official railway platform. The English site and app both accept a foreign passport, and the passport itself is the ticket at the gate. If you have not done this before, the train ticket guide walks through registration, the waitlist and what happens at the station.
Getting around
Nanjing's metro is fast, cheap and covers every sight on this list. Line 2 is the tourist line: it runs from the city centre east to Purple Mountain and stops at Nanjing Museum, the Presidential Palace area and Xuanwu Lake.
| Line | What it reaches | Useful stops |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2 | Purple Mountain, Nanjing Museum, city centre | Muxuyuan, Xiamafang, Minggugong, Daxinggong, Yunjin Road |
| Line 1 | North–south spine, Xuanwu Lake, Nanjing South | Xuanwumen, Xinjiekou, Nanjing South |
| Line 3 | Fuzimiao and the Qinhuai riverfront | Fuzimiao, Wudingmen, Jimingsi |
| Line S1 | Airport link | Lukou International Airport, Nanjing South |
Fares are distance-based and start at around ¥2, rising to roughly ¥7 to ¥10 for long trips. Two ways to pay: the Alipay or WeChat transport QR code, or a single-journey token from a machine. Nanjing Metro also sells tourist passes (a one-day pass and a three-day pass) at selected stations; prices and availability are set by the operator, so check at the service desk. Card payment setup is covered in the paying in China guide.
What to see, by cluster
Nanjing is too spread out for a single walking route. Plan by cluster and use the metro between them.
| Cluster | Headline sights | Half day or full day |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Mountain (east) | Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Linggu Temple, Meiling Palace, Music Hall | Full day, or two if you walk a lot |
| Republican centre | Presidential Palace, Nanjing Museum, 1912 Street, Xuanwu Lake | Full day |
| Qinhuai riverfront (south) | Fuzimiao, Qinhuai boat cruise, Laomendong, Zhonghua Gate | Afternoon and evening |
| Riverside memorial (southwest) | Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre | Two to three hours |
The full detail on the historical sites, including why each one matters, is in the history guide. For a workable sequence across two days, the 2-day itinerary lays it out hour by hour.
The reservation problem
This is the part that catches visitors out. Several of Nanjing's best-known sights are free but require a real-name booking made in advance, usually through a WeChat mini-program or official account. A passport is accepted as the ID. The booking screens are in Chinese and often want a Chinese phone number, so doing this before you fly, or with help from your hotel, saves a wasted morning.
| Sight | Ticket | Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum | Free | Required, book in advance |
| Nanjing Museum | Free (permanent halls) | Required, released several days ahead |
| Massacre Memorial Hall | Free | Required, book 1 to 7 days ahead |
| Presidential Palace | Paid, full price ¥35 | Real-name booking, timed entry |
| Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum | ¥70 | Buy at the gate or online |
| Linggu Temple area | ¥35 | Buy at the gate |
| Meiling Palace | ¥30 | Buy at the gate |
| Zhonghua Gate (city wall) | Paid, section-based | Buy at the gate |
Prices above are the published gate prices and do change. A combined ticket for the four Purple Mountain paid sights (Ming Xiaoling, Linggu, Music Hall, Meiling Palace) is sold at ¥100, which is worth it if you plan to see more than two of them. The general mechanics of booking Chinese attractions are in the attraction booking guide.
Where to stay
- Xinjiekou is the commercial centre, where Lines 1 and 2 cross. Best for metro access and late food.
- Fuzimiao puts you inside the Qinhuai riverfront, which is at its best after dark. Noisier, more touristy.
- Near Nanjing South suits a short stop or an early train, but it is a business district, not a sightseeing base.
- Around Daxinggong sits between the Republican centre and Xinjiekou, on Lines 2 and 3.
Foreign passports are accepted at hotels that are registered to take foreign guests, which is most international and mid-range chains. Smaller domestic guesthouses sometimes are not. The hotels guide explains how that works.
What to eat
Nanjing cooking is lighter and more sweet-savoury than Sichuan or Hunan food. Three things to try: salted duck (盐水鸭), sold by weight at shops all over the city and best eaten the same day; duck blood and vermicelli soup (鸭血粉丝汤), a cheap bowl that works as breakfast or a snack; and soup dumplings (汤包), which are eaten with a spoon and bitten carefully. Fuzimiao and Laomendong are the concentrated snack streets, and both are busy at night. More on ordering is in the food guide.
When to come
April to May and late September to November are the comfortable windows. Spring brings the plum and cherry blossom on Purple Mountain, with a plum blossom festival from late February into March. Autumn has clear, mild days and the turning leaves on the mountain.
Summer is genuinely hot and humid, with July daytime highs around 33°C, and winter is damp and raw with highs near 7°C in January. The two national holiday peaks, the Spring Festival period and the first week of October, fill trains, hotels and every reservation slot. If your dates are fixed around those, book everything early. The holidays and crowds guide covers the calendar.
Practical notes
- Entry rules. Many nationalities now enter China visa-free for short stays, and there is a separate transit policy. The list changes, so check the current rules for your passport on the official immigration site or at your nearest Chinese embassy before booking flights. Details in the visa-free guide.
- Payment. Alipay and WeChat Pay both bind foreign cards. Cash works but is awkward. See paying in China.
- Internet. Buy an eSIM or a local SIM if you rely on Google, WhatsApp or Instagram. A travel eSIM keeps those working without a VPN.
- Language. English is uncommon outside hotels and major sights. Screenshot Chinese names of everything you plan to visit.
- Walking load. Purple Mountain is large, and the Sun Yat-sen stairway is 392 steps. Comfortable shoes matter more here than in most Chinese cities.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does Nanjing need?
Two full days covers Purple Mountain, the Republican-era centre and the Qinhuai riverfront. Add a half day for the Massacre Memorial Hall. Three days lets you slow down and include Xuanwu Lake, Jiming Temple and the city wall properly.
Is Nanjing worth visiting from Shanghai?
Yes, and it is easy. High-speed trains from Shanghai Hongqiao take a bit over an hour, so a day trip is possible, though an overnight stay is better because the Qinhuai riverfront and Purple Mountain both reward an unhurried pace.
Which Nanjing sights need a reservation?
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum and the Massacre Memorial Hall all need an advance real-name booking even though admission is free. The Presidential Palace needs a timed booking. Ming Xiaoling, Linggu, Meiling Palace and the city wall can be paid for at the gate.
Can I use a foreign passport for these bookings?
Yes. Passports are accepted as valid real-name ID at Nanjing's sights. The practical obstacle is the Chinese-language booking systems, some of which expect a Chinese phone number, so plan the bookings before you arrive or ask your hotel to help.
What is closed on Mondays in Nanjing?
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum, the Massacre Memorial Hall and the Presidential Palace all close on Mondays, except on national holidays. Build Monday around the city wall, Fuzimiao, Laomendong and the outdoor parts of Purple Mountain instead.
How much do Nanjing's sights cost?
Ming Xiaoling is ¥70, Linggu Temple ¥35, Meiling Palace ¥30, the Music Hall ¥10, and a combined ticket for all four is ¥100. The Presidential Palace is ¥35 at full price. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing Museum and the Massacre Memorial Hall are free. Prices are set by the operators and can change.
Do I need a VPN in Nanjing?
For Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western news sites, yes, unless you use a travel eSIM that routes data outside the mainland. Chinese apps, maps and payment services all work normally without one.
What is Nanjing's local food?
Salted duck, duck blood and vermicelli soup, and soup dumplings are the three things most visitors remember. Fuzimiao and Laomendong are the easiest places to try a range of local snacks in one evening.
Related reading
Ticket prices and opening hours follow the Nanjing municipal and Zhongshan Mountain National Park published guides and are current as of September 2026. Reservation rules, seasonal hours and fares are set by the operators and change without notice; confirm on the official channel before you travel.