Nanjing Old Town in Depth & a Yangzhou Day Trip in
Old neighborhoods in the south of the city, Purple Mountain, and the Six Dynasties and Republic-era museums, plus a high-speed train day trip to Yangzhou for morning tea and Slender West Lake.
The pace is slower than the three-day route: more time in the southern old quarters such as Xiaoxi Lake, and Purple Mountain with Linggu Temple added. The Presidential Palace, the Six Dynasties Museum and the Nanjing Museum are grouped in the same area. On Day 4, take a high-speed train to Yangzhou. On the last day, visit the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall and the Republic-era mansion district of Yihe Road before departing. You stay in Xinjiekou throughout for easy transfers. It suits travelers with more time who want to see things in more detail.
Crowds peak during Yangzhou's March flower season and Purple Mountain's November autumn colors. Book tickets and reservations in advance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival & the Old Streets of South Nanjing
Central Nanjing(Zhonghua Gate、Laomendong Historic District、Xiaoxihu Historic Block、Confucius Temple & Qinhuai River)
From Lukou Airport, take Subway Line S1 and transfer to Line 1 (about 1 hour) to Xinjiekou. In the afternoon, take a taxi or the subway to the south of the city, then walk between neighborhoods.
Stay: Xinjiekou
Day 2 · Purple Mountain Mausoleums & Linggu Temple
Central Nanjing(Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum、Meiling Palace、Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum、Linggu Temple)
Take Subway Line 2 to Muxuyuan Station to enter the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. Scenic-area shuttle buses connect Meiling Palace, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Linggu Temple. The whole route takes about 7 hours.
The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum requires a real-name reservation. The mausoleum area is closed on Mondays.
Stay: Xinjiekou
Day 3 · Nanjing's Six Dynasties & Republic-Era Core
Central Nanjing(Presidential Palace、Six Dynasties Museum、Ming Palace Ruins、Nanjing Museum)
The Presidential Palace and the Six Dynasties Museum are within walking distance of each other. Take Subway Line 2 two stops to Minggugong, then walk to the Nanjing Museum.
The Nanjing Museum and the Six Dynasties Museum are closed on Mondays and require reservations.
Stay: Xinjiekou
Day 4 · Yangzhou Morning Tea & Slender West Lake
Yangzhou(Fuchun Teahouse、Slender West Lake、Ge Garden、Dongguan Street)
Take a high-speed train from Nanjing South Station to Yangzhou East Station (about 40 minutes), then a city bus or taxi (about 20 minutes). Return to Nanjing by high-speed train in the evening.
Morning tea houses have queues in the morning, so arrive before 7 a.m.
Stay: Xinjiekou
Day 5 · Memorial Hall & Yihe Road, Then Departure
Central Nanjing(Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre、Yihe Road Historic District、Librairie Avant-Garde)
Take Subway Line 2 to Yunjin Road Station for the memorial hall, then a taxi (about 15 minutes) to Yihe Road. Walk to Librairie Avant-Garde, then take Subway Line S1 to the airport (about 1 hour).
The memorial hall is free but requires a reservation, and it is closed on Mondays. Leave enough time to get to the airport.
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