Nanjing

Nanjing sits on the lower Yangtze River, blending imperial history with modern transit. You navigate the city easily using its efficient subway network that circles historic walls and lake parks. Expect humid summers, leafy green avenues lined with French plane trees, and ubiquitous duck dishes.

Nanjing's food culture centres on poultry and freshwater ingredients. Duck appears in every format imaginable across the city, from refined cold starters to street-side soup stalls. Halal noodle shops operate widely near historic neighborhoods like Qinhuai, reflecting centuries of local Muslim culinary heritage.

• Salted Duck (Yanshui Ya)

  Order cold-cured duck at specialty butcher counters like Zhang Yun. The meat is tender, lightly salted, and infused with Sichuan peppercorns.

Nanjing served as capital for ten Chinese dynasties and regimes. Its position on the Yangtze River made it a natural defensive stronghold and trade gateway. The modern city wears its complex 20th-century history alongside ancient Ming architectural foundations.

1. 1368

   Ming Dynasty Capital

   Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang establishes Nanjing as capital and orders construction of the massive city wall.

2. 1842

   Treaty of Nanking

   Qing Dynasty officials sign the treaty aboard HMS Cornwallis, ending the First Opium War.

3. 1912

   Republic Declared

   Sun Yat-sen is sworn in as provisional president of the Republic of China at the Presidential Palace.

4. 1937

   Nanjing Massacre

   Imperial Japanese troops capture the city, committing atrocities documented today at the Memorial Hall.

5. 1949

   Capital Shift

   PLA forces capture the city, and the national capital moves north to Beijing under the PRC.

Choose your area based on transport access and noise tolerance. Metro Line 1 links the primary tourist zones, making station proximity more important than absolute distance from downtown.

• First-timersXinjiekou — Direct subway access to major lines, abundant dining, and central positioning.
• Night walk seekersQinhuai — Atmospheric canal views right outside hotel doors, though busier at night.
• Nature loversXuanwu — Proximity to lake trails, city wall walks, and quieter tree-lined streets.
• Business travellersHexi CBD — Spacious international chain hotels with modern infrastructure and quiet nights.

Nanjing features a clean, highly efficient metro system covering all major sites. Taxis are plentiful, but digital rideshares offer transparent pricing and eliminate language barriers.

• Scan entry gates directly using Alipay or WeChat Pay transport QR codes. No physical transit card is required.

• Nanjing South handles most high-speed trains to Shanghai (1 hour). Ensure you arrive at the correct station name on your ticket.

• Every metro station requires a quick X-ray scan for bags. Avoid carrying liquid containers openly in your hands to speed up checks.

• Set your drop-off point inside DiDi via Alipay to avoid miscommunication with drivers.

Nanjing is less expensive than Shanghai or Beijing. Cash is rarely used; mobile payment options are required for daily transactions everywhere from high-end malls to street carts.

• Duck blood noodle bowl: CNY 15–25

  Standard price at neighborhood soup shops.

• City Wall admission: CNY 30

  Grants access to the elevated Taicheng walking section.

• Taxi base fare: CNY 11

  Covers the first 3 kilometres plus small fuel surcharges.

• Digital payment required

  Link an international credit card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival to pay for meals and transport.

• Monday museum closures

  Nanjing Museum and Presidential Palace both close on Mondays. Plan outdoor wall visits instead.

• Purple Mountain shuttles

  The scenic area is large. Electric shuttles cost CNY 10 per ride to save walking between scattered monuments.

• Language barrier

  English is rarely spoken outside major international hotels. Download an offline translation app.

• Nanjing South Station size

  Nanjing South is one of Asia's largest stations. Allow at least 20 minutes to reach your train gate inside.