Why go
Purple Mountain holds the city's imperial layer: the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum climbing the forested slope, the Ming founding emperor's tomb UNESCO-listed behind a 600-year-old Sacred Way, and the Linggu Temple pagoda. Budget a full day and use the scenic shuttle.
Back downtown, the 650-year-old Ming wall still circuits 25 km; the Jiming Temple-to-Xuanwu Lake stretch is the classic sunset walk. The Confucius Temple area is touristy but the Qinhuai cruise after dark earns its reputation, and Nanjing Museum (free, passport entry) is a half-day in itself.
- Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum — 392 granite steps up Purple Mountain
- Ming Xiaoling tomb and its Sacred Way of stone animals
- A dusk walk on the Ming city wall at Xuanwu Lake
- Qinhuai River night cruise from the Confucius Temple
Where to go
Day one: Purple Mountain. Day two: city wall, Jiming Temple, Nanjing Museum, evening at Qinhuai. If time allows, the memorial hall of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre is a profound, well-presented document of the city's darkest chapter.
What to eat
Nanjing salted duck is the classic, and duck blood-and-vermicelli soup is the beloved street version. Try tangbao (soup dumplings) and pan-fried beef dumplings at the old-town lanes.
Getting there
- Shanghai or Hangzhou ~1–1.5h by HSR
- Role
- Capital of Jiangsu province
- Ming city wall
- 25 km surviving, 1366 AD
- Trees
- Plane-tree avenues planted 1928–29
