Things to do in Nanjing, China & Itinerary

Nanjing (Southern Capital) was China’s imperial capital and most important city for more than a thousand years before the capital was moved to Beijing (Northern Capital). Between 1358 and 1425, Nanjing was the world’s largest city; even today, it is home to more than 8 million people.

Hotels and attractions in Nanjing are top quality, yet they are much cheaper than in Shanghai. Visiting Nanjing offers exceptional value for money.

Nanjing food is another reason to put this city on your China bucket list. Everyone knows of Peking duck, but did you know that Nanjing is the duck capital of China? In fact, when the capital relocated to Beijing, people took their ducks with them.

We stayed at the wonderful (and affordable) Holiday Inn Aqua City and loved it. We recommend this hotel for its excellent location, friendly (English) service, comfort and 5-star amenities.

The Holiday Inn Aqua City is minutes away on foot from Fuzimiao or Xinjiekou. Metro lines 1 and 3 are also nearby if you want to use public transportation to get around Nanjing.

The Qin Huai River flows through Fuzimiao, and the best (and most relaxing way) to start your Nanjing sightseeing is to take a boat cruise along the river. From the water, you’ll get a different perspective of the city as you cruise past teahouses, parks and traditional Ming and Qing-style architecture.

After sunset, the entire Fuzimiao area lights up with lanterns and transforms into a magical old-world China. The best thing to do in Nanjing at night is to walk around and try all the street food in Fuzimiao.

There are also boat cruises on the Qinhuai River, lasting about an hour. If you plan on doing this, buy your ticket online (RMB100), as the lines are crazy.

The Japanese army occupied Nanjing (then the capital city of China) on 13 December 1937. Over the next six weeks, the city witnessed some of the most gruesome events in modern history.

An estimated 300 000 civilians lost their lives, thousands were raped, and most of the city was destroyed in a span of only six weeks.

This large memorial complex educates visitors on what’s often referred to as The Rape of Nanjing.

It’s a harrowing place that shows the destruction of war. It’s not something to do when looking for a fun day out in Nanjing. However, just like when we visited the genocide memorials in Kigali or Yerevan, we left the Nanjing memorial feeling grateful (that we did not have to experience anything like that) and hopeful (that this won’t happen again).

Most of all, we left with respect for Nanjing: for surviving, rebuilding and not forgetting.

The temple complex is an eclectic mix of spirituality and Disney Land on a grand and impressive scale. It might sound like a strange combination, but it works.

Visiting the Usnisa Palace is a visual overload and the park’s highlight. If Instagram wasn’t banned in China, one might think this palace was designed purely for that reason. The futuristic structure consists of nine floors, of which six are underground.

After seeing the enormous dome and reclining Buddha on the first floor, ride a series of escalators six floors underground to the Ten Thousand Buddha Corridor. This corridor, in turn, will take you to the Thousand Buddha Hall.

We didn’t count, but there are indeed thousands of Buddhas. And all of this SIX FLOORS underground

Put aside at least half a day to enjoy this amazing place.
Entry: RMB 160. Buy your tickets online.

A lovely walk along the Nanjing Shen Dao will take you past huge statues of elephants, camels, lions, sheep, mythical beasts, and Chinese generals. These stone figures not only protect the emperor but also have symbolic meaning.
The lions, for example, represent power, while the sheep symbolise justice.

Situated at the foot of a mountain, visitors walk up 392 steps before reaching the mausoleum. Before the steps, you’ll go through an arched marble gate with the inscription 天下为公. These are the words of Sun Yat-sen and mean, “What is under heaven is for all”

The marble mausoleum on top of the steps is a mix of Chinese and Western styles. Notice the Kuomintang emblem on the ceiling when you go inside the mausoleum. Enjoy the view and take a rest before taking the 392 steps down again.

The area, located between the old East Gate and the Nanjing city wall, consists of a few city blocks of old architecture that have been renovated and repurposed.

The pedestrian-only streets are packed with restaurants, cafes, street food snacks and independent galleries and shops. Just a short walk away from Fuzimiao, Loa Men Dong is still very touristy but has a little more local feel to it.

At night, the whole area lights up beautifully.

Interestingly, each and every brick on the wall is inscribed with the name of the brickmaker responsible for it. This was done for quality control; sub-par bricks could weaken the city’s defence, and the brickmaker probably lost his head for his recklessness.

Taking a walk on the wall gives you a fantastic view of the roofs of the old town. There are several places to go up the wall. We ascended the wall at the Zhonghua Gate (中华门) in Lao Men Dong. [Location]

The stretch of wall here gives you excellent views over the old roofs of Lao Men Dong on the one side and towards the Porcelain Tower on the other. Unlike the city wall in Xi’an, you can only walk on the wall and not cycle on it.