Experiencing Nanjing
No simple label can sum up the city today.
Nanjing always carries a distinctive air of ancient simplicity and depth, unruffled by praise or neglect, gently unfolding.
Beyond its landscapes, it's the history of rise and fall, repeated renewal and decline, that defines her.
From the Republican-era plane trees to the Qinhuai River and Ming Palace, from the Sipailou campus of Southeast University to the tucked-away Laomendong district,
if only one could slow down a little more,
in the streets and alleys, catching the sunset, browsing bookshops,
or seeing the vanished power plant chimneys, the ginkgo trees on Beijing West Road in autumn, the last day of service at Nanbao Park bus terminal.
Thanks to its convenient transport network, most places in Nanjing are directly accessible by metro, with attractions just a few stops apart.
Even traveling the same way, the Jinling (ancient Nanjing) glimpsed through the window differs for every visitor.
Many mistake 'Laomendong' for 'Old East Gate,' but it actually means 'east of the old gate'—Zhonghua Gate. Naturally, there is also Laomenxi ('west of the old gate').
Once a residential quarter for merchant families, the neighborhood preserves a wealth of historic buildings, restored to their original appearance if ever repaired.
There are no cookie-cutter souvenir shops selling jade, silver, or African drums, nor clogged snack stalls on the main street.
Though they're all commercial, the shops in Laomendong exude a distinctive Jiangnan refinement.
On a rainy day, Laomendong is hushed and serene, with trumpet creeper blossoms adding a poetic beauty.
All the world's flavors boil down to a bowl of earthly warmth.
The old Nanjing firewood wontons are nearly impossible to find nowadays.
Yet deep in Laomendong, one such spot remains.
Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
Viewing it up close from the bridge deck is always special. The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, the first dual-purpose double-decker bridge designed by the country itself, stands as an icon of the city.
It conjures illusions of the great river while staging the city's slumber and awakening.
Address: No. 7, Baotaqiao East Street, Gulou District
Directions: 20-minute taxi ride from the hotel, about 15 yuan.
Admission: ¥15 / Park ticket ¥7 (not usually required on ordinary days), elevator to the bridge ¥8, ticket validation at the memorial hall entrance.
Opening hours: 08:00–18:00, last entry 17:30
Zhu Ziqing once wrote that Nanjing is a place worth lingering in, yet added that his words were merely the impressions of a traveler.
Stay: Hongyang Hotel Nanjing
Late at night, lights blaze bright.
The hotel is located on North Daqiao Road in Pukou.
About 18 minutes by car to Nanjing North Station, Nanjing Railway Station, and the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge; around 37 minutes to the city center.
The overall positioning is minimalist, suited for business travel.
The lobby features subdued warm tones, its honest textures soothing the weary traveler.
Guest rooms blend metropolitan simplicity, European touches, and Southeast Asian business style.
The zero-pressure room offers rich spatial layers.
Plain curtains frame two large windows, flooding the room with light.
Wooden furniture and patterned carpets exude a vintage feel.
On the wall behind the bed, flowing lines create a Zen-like, ethereal atmosphere.
Carefully chosen fixtures blend modern and retro elements effortlessly.
In the cozy ambiance, figurines, that blue chair, and a yoga mat add a lived-in touch.
The plentiful ingredients and tidy environment match the overall concept.
Placemats and tableware are arranged with care.
The Sipailou campus of Southeast University is reminiscent of an oil painting.
Over in Xinjiekou, there's a Xinhua Bookstore, neither too big nor too small, and full of memories.
A drizzly morning, then evening wind chimes; old dreams give way to a new day.
cafe mo
Tucked away in a small alley.
The shop is small, the space just right, and the owner has a flair for life's pleasures.
Recommended: iced latte and caramel macchiato. Both presentation and flavor are spot on.
Address: 4-5 Sipailou
The shop's specialty is noodles tossed in sauce.
The braised broth is neither greasy nor bland, with generous, fragrant sesame seeds.
The mock chicken has a slightly crispy skin, not at all soggy, soaking up the broth; it's moist and not dry.
The lion's head meatball contains egg yolk and is satisfyingly dense.
With scallion oil noodles, the pork intestines are a bit lean, the spare ribs slightly salty, but the pork kidney is excellent.
Address: Near Sipailou Campus of Southeast University
