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Nanjing Attractions
Historic Sights
Sadly, Nanjing's Ming legacy can be found in only a few buildings and ruins today. In the center of town, the drum tower Gu Lou was built in 1382 and contained a series of drums used to mark the night watches, welcome guests, and occasionally warn of approaching enemies (admission to grounds free, ¥5 to enter the second floor of tower and teahouse, metro: Gu Lou). Close by is a pavilion, Dazhong Ting, which houses a 23,000-kilogram (25-ton) bronze bell from 1388. Toward the eastern part of town are the ruins of the first Ming dynasty imperial palace, Ming Gu Gong. All that remains of the once massive palace, destroyed in the Taiping Rebellion, are the Wu Men (Meridian Gate) that once marked the front gate of the palace wall, five small marble bridges, and 12 large plinths that were once the foundation of another large gate. Sections of the Ming city wall are still visible.
Memorials & Museums
For ¥140 you can buy a combination ticket that will give you access to Zhongshan Ling, Ming Xiao Ling, and Linggu Si; a shuttle (¥3) runs between these sights from morning until evening.
Zijin Shan (Purple Gold Mountain), on the eastern edge of town, got its name from the mountain's purple shales, said to have lent the place a mysterious purple aura at dawn and dusk. Covered with dense forests and dotted with the occasional lake, the mountain has always been a pleasant retreat for locals seeking relief from Nanjing's heat. It's also home to some important historical sites. Spend the day if you can, but if you have limited time, then the highlight is surely Zhongshan Ling.
8 Results
- Religious Site
Chaotian Gong
One of the earliest documented sites in Nanjing, this former foundry and soldier training ground during the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 B.C.) was a temple used by the Hongwu emperor (1382-98) as a ceremonial place of worship, hence Chaotian or "heaven-worshiping." The place was… - Religious Site
Fuzi Miao
Kitschy it may be, but this is where you'll get a good idea of the modern interests of Nanjing's youth. Once a place of intense study and quiet contemplation, Fuzi Miao is now the site for everything from tattoo parlors to pirated music stores selling the latest Mandarin hits. To the… - Landmark
Linggu Si
Hidden amid the tall conifers east of Zhongshan Ling, the fascinating Wuliang Dian (Beamless Hall), the only surviving edifice of this original Ming dynasty temple, is notable for having been built entirely from bricks without a single wood beam. From the outside, the building is… - Cemetery
Ming Xiao Ling
More peaceful than Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum is the tomb of the founder of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-98), also known as the Hongwu emperor. The tomb served as a model for subsequent Ming and Qing emperors' tombs in Beijing. The site has recently been polished up with funds… - Landmark
Song Meiling's Villa
A beautiful, high-ceiled villa with a traditional Chinese roof, this is where Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, better known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, often spent weekends when China's capital was located in Nanjing. The second floor consists of a massive bedroom, parlors, and a dining… - Landmark
Zhonghua Men Chengbao
Located in the southern part of town, this is the biggest and best-preserved of the city wall's original 13 gates. Built by the Hongwu emperor between 1366 and 1386, the wall, at 33km (20 miles), was the longest city wall in the world, made of uniform bricks cemented with a mortar of… - Cemetery
Zhongshan Ling
This magnificent mausoleum for Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), widely revered as the founder of modern China, has become a mecca for Chinese tourists seeking to pay their respects. Sun Yat-sen died in Beijing in 1925 but wasn't interred here until 1929, when construction of the… - Landmark
Zongtong Fu
The last time I visited this fascinating site, it was worn around the edges and attracted very few visitors, but it had an authentic air of historical significance to it. Now, likely capitalizing on its location next to the big tourist attraction of 1912, the palace has undergone a…
Nanjing Shopping
Nanjing's biggest art gallery, Jinying Yishu Zhongxin Hualang (Golden Eagle Art Center), located at Hanzhong Lu 89, 11th floor, has a large collection of traditional Chinese ink paintings, calligraphy, and modern oil paintings. Nanjing Yunjun Yanjiusuo (Brocade Research Institute) at Chating Dong Lu 240 (8:30am-4:30pm) sells cloud dragon brocade once reserved exclusively for use by emperors. Prices are high, but this is the real deal. The Nanjing Gongyi Meishu Dalou Gouwu Zhongxin at Beijing Dong Lu 31; 9am-5:40pm) has two floors of fairly expensive handicrafts from all over China, including jade, silk embroidery, fans, lacquerware, pottery, and jewelry. At the other end of the price and taste spectrum, shops at Fuzi Miao sell all kinds of local products, including rain flower pebbles, rain flower tea, hanging ornaments, and Nanjing salted duck.
The trendy nightmarket on Hunan Lu between Zhongshan Bei Lu and Zhongyang Lu has pretty much turned into a clean and orderly shopping arcade. There's still a small nightmarket at Yunnan Lu hosting vendors who sell ethnic batik arts, embroidered bags, jewelry, underwear, and household items.
Nanjing Nightlife
To find out what's happening in the arts, pick up a copy of the free English-language monthly MAP.
Chinese kun ju opera is usually performed at the Jiangnan Theater, Yanling Xiang 5 (tel. 025/8450-7397), while traditional Beijing Opera is performed at the People's Theater, Yanggongjing 25 (tel. 025/8664-1100). Performances usually begin at 9pm.
Around the corner from the Presidential Palace, 1912 is a district of bars, cafes, clubs, and restaurants. With its Euro-dance music and funky interior 7 Club, about 500m (1,640 ft.) down the way from KFC, is the current hip place to grab a drink. Danny's Irish Pub (Danni'er Ai'erlan Jiuba), located on the fourth floor of the Sheraton Hotel, Hanzhong Lu 169 (6:30pm-2am) is the most popular bar with Nanjing's expatriates. For dancing, Time Tunnel (Shiguang Suidao), at Taiping Nan Lu 354, has the largest dance floor in Nanjing and a nightly laser show to boot. The wild Scarlet (Luanshi Jiaren), at Gu Lou Chezhan Dongxiang 29, has been known to give foreigners a discount on entry fees in order to entice the locals.
