Spring Visit to Nanjing: A 3-Day Trip to the Charming Capital

In 2021, the Year of the Ox brought fresh energy. I decided to take a spontaneous trip with my family, scheduled for February 20–22. Since it was a family outing, I roughly planned the route in advance, and our actual footsteps didn't stray far.

We arrived in Nanjing at noon on February 20. First, we went to the hotel to drop off our luggage and rest. The hotel was MOTAI168 near Qinhuai River (a chain hotel, decent comfort, mainly chosen for its proximity to Fuzimiao and Qinhuai River, so we could enjoy the night view in the evening).

Our first stop was Laomendong, not far from the hotel. You can get there by bus or on foot. The scenic area is free. There's a QR code at the entrance; just scan it in advance to get a pass. You can also ask the volunteers. Every scenic spot in Nanjing requires a QR code to enter. I found the street snacks a bit too salty (personal taste, especially the duck blood vermicelli soup; I'll recommend a delicious one later). Inside Laomendong, there are many alleys, similar in structure to old local streets. There are plenty of spots perfect for photos, and the light around three or four in the afternoon is especially nice. Many people visit Xianfeng Bookstore—it's very quiet, and the whole building is made of hand-carved ancient wood. At the end of the main street is a long stretch of the old city wall. It looked like you could climb it, but we didn't go up (I'm not sure if it's free; I was busy chasing my directionally challenged mom).

Next, we went to the Fuzimiao scenic area. The area is free, but there is a charge to enter Fuzimiao itself. Students get half price, while adult tickets might vary by season. Inside, there's a large statue of Confucius and some ancient bells. You can pay respects to Confucius, but if you want to write a wish plaque, it costs 30 yuan per plaque. Lotus lanterns also cost money—60 yuan each. You can also ring a bell, which is charged too. Since it was close to the Lantern Festival, there were lanterns of all shapes on display, looking lovely in the evening. If you're a student or an admirer of Confucius, it might be worth a visit.

After leaving Fuzimiao, we were in the Qinhuai River area. Actually, the streets are all connected. Qinhuai River is especially beautiful at night, with many people and a wide selection of snacks. We also visited the nearby Imperial Examination Museum, which is also known as Jiangnan Examination Hall. Inside, there is a Wenquxing Temple where you can pray, write wish plaques, donate to the merit box, and wish for academic success. We saw many items related to ancient scholars, the history of the imperial examinations, and plaques of those who passed. One wall of top scholars left a deep impression on me—it traces the names of many top scholars from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, such as Zhang Jiuling, Wang Wei, Yang Hong, Liu Gongquan... Then you can take a boat ride to enjoy the scenery on both banks. Afterwards, we walked a bit further and savored local specialties like candied hawthorn sticks, stinky tofu, vermicelli soup, etc. Then we walked back to the hotel.

On the second day, after breakfast, we took the subway to Zhongshan Scenic Area (remember to bring drinks and snacks—prices are a bit higher inside the scenic area). Zhongshan Scenic Area includes several famous spots like Meihua Hill, Ming Xiaoling, and Sun Quan's Tomb. You need to buy a ticket before entering. We didn't visit all of them, only picking the important ones because we were simply too tired. If you have the energy, see them all so your ticket doesn't go to waste. At this time of year, plum blossoms were blooming in lush clusters all over the hills. Ming Xiaoling is well worth a visit. After exiting through Gate 7 and replenishing our energy, we climbed Zhongshan Ling. Zhongshan Ling is free. Counting the steps as you ascend made it less tiring. After reaching the top and paying respects to the statue of Mr. Sun Yat-sen, we headed back down. The whole walk was tiring. After resting a bit, since it was still early, we discussed visiting Linggu Temple to pay our respects. There are sightseeing shuttles between the main sites; walking is really quite far. Linggu Temple also charges an entry fee. Once inside, it felt very peaceful, probably because it houses the temple. When we went, Linggu Temple was not open. If you plan to go, check in advance. Behind the temple is Linggu Pagoda, nine stories high, where you can climb for a panoramic view. Inside the area, there are also Wuliang Hall and another temple, where we paid respects, burned incense, and tied wish ribbons. There are about a dozen sights, big and small, so take your time if you can. Nearby, there are also Meiling Palace, the Music Stage, Underwater World, etc. If you have time, you can explore them. Actually, all these attractions belong to the Zhongshan Scenic Area. When we left, we took a bus right at the scenic area exit—very convenient. After getting off, on the walk back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a saltwater duck shop and bought some food to take back. Their saltwater duck was incredibly tasty. Sure enough, following locals never fails. It was a small storefront, cooking just one duck per pot. The meat was tender, fresh, and not greasy. The duck intestines and duck feet were also excellent. By evening, they were sold out. My mom even said we should bring some home, but I forgot the shop's name, so I can't recommend it to everyone—such a pity.

After dinner, I went to Qinhuai River again. This time, I explored several other streets, discovered lots of delicious food, and bought some souvenirs. Right next to the hotel is Bailuzhou Park. With the Lantern Festival approaching, the decorative lanterns were especially beautiful.

On the third day, we originally planned to visit a museum, but it was closed on Mondays, so we changed plans and went to the Ming Palace Ruins, which was also closed. It seems many museums in Nanjing close on Mondays, so be sure to do your research beforehand and follow their official accounts for reservations. Since we missed the museums, we continued on Metro Line 1 to Hongshan Zoo. The zoo is built on a hill, so it's large and requires climbing—it's really tiring. However, there are koalas, Asian elephants, white tigers, pandas, meerkats, and so on, plus some amusement facilities, making it very suitable for family trips.

In the afternoon, we went to Xuanwu Lake scenic area, right near the train station. Xuanwu Lake is huge, and the city wall practically encircles the entire lake. The scenery is lovely, and you can also take a boat ride on the lake, relaxing while sightseeing.

In the evening, we took our ride home. Three days flew by, and we once again deeply appreciated the charm of Nanjing. We'll have to visit other spots when we have time. All in all, it was a trip filled with wonderful memories. The world is vast, and we're always on the road…

Travelogue directory: 1. Day 1, Feb 20 – Laomendong - Fuzimiao - Qinhuai River; 2. Day 2, Feb 21 – Zhongshan Scenic Area - Zhongshan Ling - Linggu Temple; 3. Day 3, Feb 22 – Ming Palace Ruins - Zoo - Xuanwu Lake. Travel info; hotel index; guide index; flight ticket index; website directory; travel index; cruise index; corporate travel index; partnership alliances; affiliate links; corporate gift card procurement; insurance agents; agency cooperation; hotel partnerships; destination and scenic area cooperation; more partnerships; about Trip.com; about Trip.com; Trip.com hot topics; contact us; recruitment; user agreement; privacy policy; business license; security center; Trip.com content center; intellectual property rights; Trip.com Group algorithm disclosure.