Nanjing is the under-visited former capital: twice the history of most stops at a fraction of the crowds. It sits on the Beijing–Shanghai rail line, which makes it the easiest "extra city" to add to a first trip. Plan 1–2 nights.
Decide the city's role
A good fit if you want depth without queues — city walls you can walk alone, and solemn modern history done properly. Think twice if you need nightlife and polish; Nanjing is sober, green, and student-flavored.
Build days by cluster
| Cluster | What's in it | Why it groups |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Mountain | Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, cable ways | One full day on one mountain |
| Ming relics | Zhonghua Gate, city-wall walk, Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) at night | One riverside evening |
| Memory | Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall | Half-day; free, reserve online |
| Lakes | Xuanwu Lake park loop | A relaxed morning between trains |
Booking priorities
The Memorial Hall and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum both use free timed reservations (closed Mondays for the memorial — check before you build the day). The wall and Zhonghua Gate are walk-up. Trains from Shanghai take 60–90 minutes; from Beijing about 3.5 hours.
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