Nanjing · City Snapshot
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
Six-Dynasty palaces, Ming-brick ramparts and Yangtze sunsets—Nanjing blends imperial gravitas with lakeside slow life.
Morning mist drifts over Xuanwu Lake's lotus pavilions; by night, Qinhuai River lanterns flicker beneath Ming walls.
1
Heritage Pulse
Timeline
229 AD – Eastern Wu capital ▶ 1368 – Ming dynasty founded & city wall built ▶ 1912 – Republic of China established ▶ 1937 – Nanjing Massacre ▶ 2005 – Yangtze River tunnel/bridge boom
Cultural icons
Ming City Wall · Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum · Qinhuai lantern boats · Salted duck · Yunjin brocade
Modern tags
Chip-design hub · High-speed-rail nexus · University powerhouse · Green transport exemplar
Keywords
Purple Mountain • Xuanwu Lake • Fuzimiao • Yangtze River Bridge • Nanjing Metro (12 lines)
2
Fast-Facts
👥 Population
≈ 9.6 M urban · High Tier-2
(2023 est.)
💰 Cost
Street meal ≈ ¥22 • 4★ hotel ≈ US $110
Mid-range for east China
🚇 Transit
12 metro lines • ~460 km network
Expanding yearly
🌿 Air Quality
2024 avg PM₂.₅ ≈ 31 µg/m³
Better in spring/fall
🎯 Tourism
Peak 1 h+ queues at Mausoleum & Fuzimiao during Golden Weeks
Book ahead when possible
⚠️ Safety
Low violent crime; beware taxi overcharge at South Station
Safe overall
📱 Digital
5G 98% coverage; QR-pay universal—even ferry kiosks
Cashless ready
💳 Income
GDP ¥1.8 tn • per-cap ¥180 k
Strong tech sector
🗣️ English
Moderate near universities & CBD; low in old alleyways
Translation apps help
3
Why Visit ↔ Why Skip
✅
Why Visit
🏛️
Capital of Ten Dynasties—city walls, Ming tombs, ROC palaces
🌲
Purple Mountain hikes—temples, cable car, forest air
🏮
Qinhuai night-lantern food scene
🍜
Jiangsu cuisine classics—salted duck, duck-blood vermicelli
🎓
University vibe—cafés, museums, historic campuses
❌
Why Skip
🌡️
Summer steam-bath—July–Aug humidity > 85%
❄️
Winter chill & drizzle—0°C feels colder than Beijing dry frost
👥
Crowds—Fuzimiao & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum jammed on weekends
🌶️
Milder flavours—chili fans may crave extra heat
🌙
Nightlife light—bars shut by 01:00 outside Xinjiekou
4
Traveler-Fit Tags
🏺 History Buffs
★★★
Walk intact Ming walls, visit ROC presidency, solemn Nanjing Massacre Memorial.
🌊 Nature Seekers
★★☆
Purple Mountain & Xuanwu lakeside paths deliver greenery minutes from metro.
🍜 Food Hunters
★★☆
Sample duck-blood soup by day, riverside duck crescent moon cakes by night.
👩🎓 Student Nomads
★★★
Cheap dorms near Nanjing Univ., bike lanes, vibrant café scene on Hankou Rd.
🛍 Urban Shoppers
★★☆
Xinjiekou underground malls & Lao Dong Men vintage streets.
👨👩👧 Family Travelers
★★☆
Science Museum, Yangtze Bridge Park & paddle boats—prepare strollers for stairs.
🥾 Day-Trippers
★★☆
Bullet-train 30 min to Tianjin; 2 h to Chengde summer palace.
★★★ = highly recommended · ★★☆ = good with caveats · ★☆☆ = not ideal
5
Neighborhood Snapshot
Xinjiekou CBD
Business Hub
✨
Malls, metro cross, night bars
Qinhuai River & Fuzimiao
Historic District
✨
Lantern boats, snack alleys
Purple-Mountain Foothills
Heritage Zone
✨
Mausoleums, cable car, forest
Xuanwu Lake Belt
Lake District
✨
Jog trail, lotus boat hires
Pukou New Town
New District
✨
Yangtze views, lower prices
6
Season & Quirks
🌤️ Four-Season Climate
Good
Cherry-blossom walks on City Wall
Pleasant hiking weather
Humid
Lotus bloom on Xuanwu; high humidity
Stay hydrated & seek AC
Best
Red-maple Purple Mountain hikes
Perfect hiking weather
Fair
Tangshan hot-springs, duck-hot-pot nights
Cozy indoor activities
🎭
Local Quirks & Tips
🌧️
Plum-rain season mid-Jun
Bring an umbrella
🚇
Metro depth—Yunjin Rd
≈ 34 m down; add escalator time
🌶️
"Ya bu yao la?" waiters ask
If you need spice oil—default is light
💡
Quick Tips
🏛️
Respect memorial zones: no loud selfies at Massacre Memorial.
💰
No tipping: a nod and xièxiè suffice.
🚢
Small cash for ferries: ¥2–¥5 Yangtze cross-river boat still low-tech.
⚠️
Etiquette & Pitfalls
Quiet in memorials
Hushed voices at Massacre Museum & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.
💡 Show respect at memorial sites
Queue discipline
Orderly lines for wall bike rentals & boat tickets.
💡 Follow local queuing customs
Beware "duck-shop package tours"
Stalls near Confucius Temple offering free calligraphy often end in ¥200 "ink fee".
💡 Politely decline if pressured to pay
Yangtze Ferry Cash
Nokias QR fails in tunnel; carry coins for Yangtze ferry crossings.
💡 Have small change ready for ferry rides
Passport Copy
Random ID checks along riverfront after 22 h. Carry passport copy for identification.
💡 Keep digital copies on phone as backup reference
