brown and black temple surrounded by green trees during daytime

Nanjing

Nanjing is a former imperial capital in eastern China, known for a Ming-era city wall you can walk, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the old Qinhuai River quarter.

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Nanjing is a city in Jiangsu province on the lower Yangtze River. It served as the capital of several dynasties, and the first Ming emperor made it his capital in the late fourteenth century. Sections of the Ming city wall he ordered built still stand, and you can walk parts of its top. The city was also the capital of the Republic of China.

Three sights anchor most plans: the Ming wall, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on the slopes of Purple Mountain, and the Qinhuai River quarter, where old streets and the Confucius Temple sit beside the canal. Two days is enough for the main sights at a relaxed pace. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summers are hot and humid. High-speed trains from Shanghai and Beijing reach the city, and the metro connects most sights, with taxis filling the gaps.

Nanjing in five

Reserve major museums and memorials aheadLarge state museums and memorials in China often sell timed entry against passport details. Check each site's official booking channel a few days ahead rather than relying on walk-up tickets.
Ride the high-speed rail instead of flyingNanjing sits on the Shanghai to Beijing rail corridor, and trains from Hangzhou and Shanghai arrive in the city's rail hub. Book on 12306 with your passport.Shanghai
Walk a section of the city wallPick a dry morning for a stretch of the Ming wall rather than trying to circle it. Combine it with the nearby gates and lakes, and check which sections are open on the day.
Use the Qinhuai area for evening, not for lunchThe Qinhuai River quarter near the Confucius Temple is Nanjing's tourist core. Eat a block or two away from the main frontage for better value, and visit at dusk when the lights come on.
Plan a hot-weather day indoorsSummers are hot and humid, so keep a museum or covered market in reserve. Spring and autumn suit the wall and the mausoleum far better.

Things to do in Nanjing

See all attractions in Nanjing

Landmark · NanjingMing Xiaoling Mausoleum

Park · NanjingPipahu Scenic Area

A large building with a flag on top of it

Monument · NanjingMemorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NanjingPut the places you like in Nanjing on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Nanjing Lukou (NKG)
Getting there: High-speed rail from Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing; flights
Getting around: Metro and taxis; mobile payment is widely used
Best base: Near the Confucius Temple or Xinjiekou for evenings and the metro
Time needed: 2 days; 3 with Zhenjiang or Yangzhou

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Cold, damp
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Cold, drizzle
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Mild, spring
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Blossom, mild
MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Warm, pleasant
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Plum rain
JulyRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Hot, humid
AugustRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Hot, humid
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Warm, clearer
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Clear, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Cool, autumn
DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cold, quiet

Average daily high and low in Nanjing, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Nanjing

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 60%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 88%

Jiangsu

04:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today18°14°88%Tuesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 88%.
Wed18°15°100%Wednesday: Rain. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 100%.
Thu20°14°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri21°12°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat18°12°82%Saturday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 82%.
Sun13°12°86%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 86%.

Updated 04:27 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY

Amount

Converted to

CNY · Chinese Yuan

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Nanjing

Nanjing city and history toursGuided wall, mausoleum and old lanesCompare tours

Hotels near the Confucius TempleMetro-linked bases for the old quarterCheck availability

eSIM for NanjingMaps and ticket apps in the cityRead the guide

Insurance for NanjingDelay cover for rail-heavy routesRead the guide

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Rules for Nanjing, checked

Check visa and transit rules on the National Immigration Administration website before you book flights, as entry rules change.Source
Hotels register foreign guests and ask for your passport at check-in. Carry the original, not a photo.
Declare cash above the allowed limit, and any food, plants or animal products, on your arrival form. Officers may inspect bags.
Drug offences carry severe penalties in China. Never carry a bag or parcel for someone else.

Plan around Nanjing

All of China

Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities

Read the guide Hangzhou

West Lake and tea hills by high-speed rail

Read the guide Shanghai

Trains, the Bund and old lanes

Read the guide Beijing

Forbidden City and Wall at the corridor's far end

Read the guide China visa-free entry

The 30-day list and the 240-hour transit

Read the guide Money and costs in China

Cashless payments and backup cash

Read the guide Suzhou

Classical gardens between Nanjing and Shanghai

Read the guide

Nanjing FAQ

How many days do you need in Nanjing?

Two days cover the city wall, the Qinhuai quarter, one major museum and the mausoleum. Add a third for a day trip to nearby Zhenjiang or Yangzhou. One day only suits a rail stopover.

Is Nanjing worth visiting?

Yes for history: it was the capital of several dynasties and of the Republic of China, and the Ming wall and the Qinhuai quarter are its best-known sights. It is a quieter, less polished stop than Beijing or Shanghai.

How far is Nanjing from Shanghai by train?

They are linked by the high-speed rail corridor, so a day trip is possible but better as an overnight. Check the exact journey time on 12306 for the train you choose.

When is the best time to visit Nanjing?

April, May, October and November. Spring brings blossom and mild air, and autumn is clear and cooler. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold and damp.

Do I need my passport to buy train tickets?

Yes. Rail tickets on 12306 are tied to your passport details, and you show the passport at the station gate. Carry it for hotel check-in and ticketed sights as well.