Nanjing travel tips: Skip queues and save money like a local

Three hours. That's how long a family from Boston stood in the wrong line at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum last month. I watched them, sweating under the Nanjing sun, holding paper tickets that no one accepted. They had the right intention—just the wrong Nanjing travel tips. Here's the thing: most online guides are either outdated or copy-pasted. I've been guiding tours in this city for over a decade, and I still see tourists making the same mistakes. Let me save you the trouble.

Why Most Nanjing Travel Guides Miss the Mark

Open any blog and you'll find generic lists: "Visit Confucius Temple, eat duck blood vermicelli, go to the Ming tombs." Sounds nice, but they never tell you that the metro exit for the mausoleum is a 25-minute uphill walk, or that the famous restaurant closes at 8:30 PM and accepts only WeChat Pay. That's the gap I'll fill here.

Best Time to Visit Nanjing (and When to Avoid)

Nanjing is a furnace in July and August—temperatures regularly hit 38°C (100°F). Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. But even in spring, avoid Chinese national holidays (first week of May, first week of October). The crowds triple. I always tell my clients: aim for mid-week in late April. The weather is mild, cherry blossoms are out at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and queues are short.

How to Get Around Nanjing Without a Car

Nanjing has a clean, efficient metro system. But here's the catch: not all attractions are near metro exits. For example, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum's main entrance is a steep 1 km walk from Metro Line 2's Xiamafang Station. Take a taxi from the station to the gate—costs about 10 RMB, saves your legs.

Metro Tips

• App: Download "Nanjing Metro" app (English interface) or use Alipay's transport module. Don't bother buying tickets from machines—they often lack English.
• Key lines: Line 1 covers the city center and Confucius Temple; Line 2 goes to the Purple Mountain attractions; Line 3 connects to the train station.
• Time: Metro runs 6:00–23:00. After 10 PM, frequency drops to every 10 minutes.

Didi (Uber) vs Taxi

Didi is cheaper and easier—no language barrier. But taxis near train stations often refuse to use the meter. I always flag a DiDi. Pro tip: set your pick-up point a few meters from the hotel entrance to avoid being intercepted by parked taxis.

Top Attractions and Hidden Tricks

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Address: 7 Zhongshan East Road, Xuanwu District. Hours: 8:30–17:00 (last entry 16:00). Ticket: Free, but you must reserve online via the official WeChat mini-program "中山陵" (search in Chinese). Yes, it's in Chinese only—ask your hotel staff to help. Without reservation, you won't enter. I've seen hundreds turned away. Best time: Go before 9 AM or after 3 PM to avoid crowds. The 392 steps are no joke; take breaks.

Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao)

Address: 80 Gongyuan Street, Qinhuai District. Hours: 9:00–22:00 (shopping area open later). Ticket: Free entry to the street; the Confucius Temple itself costs 30 RMB. Watch out: The snack street is tourist-trap central. Prices double after dark. I recommend heading one block north to Laomendong for better food and fewer crowds.

Nanjing Museum

Address: 321 Zhongshan East Road. Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays). Ticket: Free but reservation needed via the official WeChat account. Don't miss: The digital exhibition of ancient Chinese paintings on the second floor—it's a hidden gem. Facilities: Wheelchair accessible, English audio guides available (deposit 200 RMB).

Nanjing Food: What to Eat and Where

Accommodation: Where to Stay for Easy Access

• Budget (Backpacker): Nanjing International Youth Hostel (address: 51 Zhongshan Road). Dorms from 60 RMB. Clean, central, and they help with booking tickets. Weak Wi-Fi in rooms.
• Mid-range (Family): Jinling Hotel (address: 2 Hanzhong Road). Twin rooms from 350 RMB. Right on top of Metro Line 1 & 2 interchange. English-speaking staff, but breakfast is overpriced—skip it and eat at a local soy milk shop.
• Splurge (Couples): Shangri-La Nanjing (address: 100 Jiangdong North Road). From 800 RMB. Stunning river view. Has a 24-hour gym and an indoor pool. The concierge helped me get a last-minute ticket to Nanjing Museum when I forgot to book.

Essential Nanjing Travel Tips (Payment, Language, Tickets)

Payment: 95% of places only accept WeChat Pay or Alipay. International credit cards work at big hotels and some high-end restaurants, but forget about using them at street stalls or metro ticket machines. Get your WeChat Pay set up before arriving. Language: English is not widely spoken. I always recommend downloading Pleco for translation and Baidu Maps (works better than Google Maps in China). Ticket booking: Almost all major attractions require online reservation. The official channels are WeChat mini-programs—each attraction has its own. Book at least 24 hours in advance, especially for weekends.

24-Hour Nanjing Itinerary (Plan B Inside)

Only have one day? Here's my tight-but-doable route:

8:00 AM – Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (2 hours). 10:30 AM – Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (1 hour). Take a Didi between them—only 8 RMB. 12:00 PM – Lunch at La Menkou Duck (see table above). 1:30 PM – Nanjing Museum (2 hours, free but must reserve). 4:00 PM – Confucius Temple area (wander, skip the inner temple if you're tired). 6:30 PM – Dinner at Yi Pin Xiaoguan. 8:00 PM – Qinhuai River night cruise (80 RMB, 50 mins).

Plan B (rainy day): Swap the mausoleums for the Presidential Palace (40 RMB, indoor) and the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (free, very sobering). Add a coffee stop at Central Plains Café in Laomendong—they have decent cappuccinos.

Frequently Asked Questions