Nanjing Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Nanjing (南京 Nánjīng), historically also Nanking, is situated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is the central city of the lower Yangtze Basin. It is a renowned historical and cultural city.
Nanjing means "southern capital", Beijing "northern capital". Nanjing was the capital of several dynasties. It was the capital of the Republic of China from their 1911 revolution until the defeat by the communists in 1949.
It is the capital city of Jiangsu Province in the People's Republic of China.
Contents |
Get in
By plane
There are currently no direct flights from Nanjing airport to Shanghai, but to Beijing, Hong Kong, and major cities abroad you will find plenty of airlines. The airport is best reached either by taxi or airport bus.
By train
There are numerous daily departures to Shanghai, about two to three hours away. Keep in mind that soft seat (1st class) at 79 RMB is not that much more expensive than hard seat (2nd class) at 49 RMB and offers you much better equipment, comparable with a business class flight. The train cars are great as well, and much more spacious than those of an airplane.
By car
There is a modern highway system between Shanghai and Nanjing, which will allow you to travel quite quickly from city to city. Keep in mind of traffic in morning and evening. If you're just one person, it's much cheaper to travel by train, if you're larger group, car gets cheaper. But keep in mind that you need to be a very experienced driver to participate in Chinese traffic, better use trains/buses between the cities and taxis in the cities, unless you're really on for a challenge.
If you ane interested in driving yourself, see also Driving in China.
By boat
It's not really possible to travel by boat to there, even though Nanjing is situated on the Yangtse river. The river is mostly used for transport of goods, not for persons. Better use railway.
Get around
See
There is a large park called Purple Mountain East of the lake, Northeast of city center. It contains Ming Dynasty tombs, the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat Sen (leader of the 1911 revolution) and other impressive stuff. You could spend a day or more just exploring this.
There is also a cable car going up the hill, and if you have the right shoes, feel free to walk down from the hill. Prices are fairly acceptable, for one-ride 25 RMB, for up-and-down 45 RMB.
Nanjing Museum, right on the main street of Nanjing, offers you a lot of different culture scenes, including the sailing of Zheng He (the eunuch admiral of the Ming Dynasty who explored at least to Africa, perhaps further) and real-silk-making. It's a great place to spend either a hot or rainy day.
There is a monument to the 1937 Nanjing massacre by Japanese troops of many thousands of Chinese (around 300,000), including a partly excavated mass grave where visitors can see the skeletons. Don't go there if you're sensitive, because it can really scare you. There is no entrance fee.
One of the bridges over the Yangtze has sculptures that are a classic of socialist art. Workers and farmers have tools; military have weapons. They all have books, presumably of Mao's Thought. The bridge was built after the clinch between the Soviet Union and China in the early 60's. The Soviet Advisors told Mao that it wouldn't be possible, but the Chinese built it anyway. This was the first major project built entirely by Chinese, without foreign help. Very interesting monument, and on the other side there are completely new towns in the making (Finished around spring 2006) including direct subway-connection.
Do
If you are staying in Nanjing for any time and want to visit a number of scenic parks then it is worth buying a Purple Mountain pass for 100RMB and/ or a city pass for 120RMB. The Purple Mountain pass can be bought at the entrance to Sun Yat Sen's Memorial (and possibly at any of the other parks on the mountain) and provides you with free entry to nine parks on the mountain. If you are going to visit more than 2 or 3 of the parks on the mountain you will save money with the pass. The city pass can be bought at the entrance to any of the big parks in the city, such as the zoo or Yuhuatai Memorial Park and provides you with free entry to 21 different locations. You need to provide a passport photo for each pass. The passes are valid for a calendar year.
Learn
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Work
Buy
The shopping area surrounding the Confuscious Temple is a must for every shopper. Whether shopping for clothing, household items, souvenirs or whatever, the maze of tiny individual shops will prove to be a delightful treasure trove. Haggling over prices is the name of the game here. If you are skilled in the art of bargaining you can easily get an asking price of 380 RMB reduced to 80 RMB without breaking a sweat. The streets outside the Temple area provide more shopping opportunities, as does the underground mall! The entrance to this mall is sandwiched between two shops but the neon lights provide a clue worth checking out. This is a shopping experience you will want to return to again and again.
While you are there take a stoll through the temple, and over the historic bridge which offers great photo opportunities. If it's a cup of tea that interests you check out the little gold roofed floating tea houses on the canal.
Eat
Budget
World wide fast food supplieres (former article deleted because of advertisement)
Mid-range
OMAX Restaurant offers a great steak, tender and cooked to perfection for 68 RMB, as well as other "western style" meals, and Chinese dishes. The owner/hostess speaks fairly good English and there is often a piano player. 5th Floor Bangkok Yatai Plaza, a block from WalMart in the Xinjiekou District
Splurge
Drink
Night life here in Nanjing is very much alive! Nanjing's 1912 is comparable to Shanghai's Xintiandi.
Sleep
- Nanjing Danfeng International Hotel (丹凤国际青年旅館), 59-1 Yushi Street, North Floor 6. (三十路鱼市街站旁的华诚超市六楼)
- The Chinese name is "Danfeng International Youth Hostel", which should give you some idea of the English abilities of the staff, but this is easily the best budget option in Nanjing. Small dorm rooms (3 people/room) start at about ¥50/night, with larger single & double rooms starting at about ¥160/night. Private rooms are spotlessly clean, and excellent size for the money. Although their listing on numerous websites says it is "wireless", each room is equipped with wired internet connections. (You can borrow an ethernet cable from the reception desk.) Those without can share the communal computer for free. Don't share a private room with anyone you don't want to see naked, as the bathroom/toilet is housed inside a strange transparent glass enclosure. Book online (if you have a credit card), or call 025-83226770 (if you can speak Mandarin, or you're lucky enough to have their daughter pick up the phone).
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
-Sheraton Nanjing Kingley Towers, right in the middle of the town, offering you all the service you're used to have in a 5***** hotel, if you've a good guide you should get the rooms for around 400-500 RMB per night, including breakfast.
-Hilton: Went bankrupt a year before, now reopened, still in the city but a little bit more far away from the center. Good if you want to make business in the east of the town.
Contact
Stay safe
Nanjing is not as dangerous as Shanghai and not as safe as Hangzhou. Take care of your belongings, since there are quite a lot of pickpockets, but little violent crime.
Cope
Get out
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