Adra Writes

Today, I am coming to you with a travel post on my home away from home, Nanjing, China. I lived there for one and half years leading up to the pizza party, so I am sharing some insider tips on where to go, what to do, and most importantly, where to eat. 

Facts about Nanjing

• Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province in Southeast China.
• 1.5-hour train ride from Shanghai on the banks of the famous Yangtze River. 
• It served as the capital of China for 6 dynasties. 
• It is a place of historical importance from its position in the Opium War, rebellions against the Qing Dynasty, and the work of Dr. Sun Yet-sen. 
• The sight of the Nanjing Massacre where more than 300,000 men, women, and children were murdered and raped by the Japanese army in 1937. 

Getting Around Nanjiing

The city is conveniently located for international travel, there are2 major railway stations to take you to large and small cities across China. It has an extensive subway system that reaches almost every corner of the city, making it easy to get around. It also utilizes the “Uber of China,” Didi, which is another safe means to get around the town if you don’t want to take public transport. 

Where to stay? 

Several areas would be a central location for any stay in Nanjing. I would recommend staying in the downtown area so you can walk to some places and have more convenient subway stops to take to other parts of town. 

Gulou (my district) is a very central location to good food, nightlife, shopping, and sights. The most famous building in Nanjing, the Intercontinental hotel, is a pricey option for those who want to travel in style. They also have a rooftop bar to soak in the best view of the city. 

Xinjiecko is another convenient option to stay close to nightlife, so you don’t have to worry about the long journey home after a night of drinking. There is the Nanjing Central Hotel, Crowne Plaza, and an array of hostels to choose from. 

Xuanwu is another beautiful area. It’s named after the massive lake in the middle of the city. You will find many great options for food, sightseeing, leisurely strolling in the evenings, and short rides to nearby bars and clubs, if you like. There is the Golden Eagle Summit Hotel, which offers prices for most budgets. Additionally, you will find more hostels to choose from if you want to go for an even cheaper option. 

Pro Tip: Make sure the hotel or hostel you are booking has a permit to accommodate foreigners, esp. in large cities. You will be turned away upon check-in if you don’t double-check this detail. I have met tourists who encountered this problem in many cities around China. It is best to stay in well-known and established hotels or hostels to avoid this dilemma. 

What to do? 

There are several places of cultural significance to visit in Nanjing! Here are some places to explore if you only have one or two days to explore the city. 

Purple Mountain National Park 

Time to explore: A half-day to a full day 

This is my favorite place to go to on the weekends to see some trees and breathe fresh air. There are many places and sights to visit within the park area, so be sure to grab a map. Also, be sure to purchase tickets for the areas you want to see (there are different tickets for different parts). However, climbing to the top of the mountain is free for all visitors, including visiting the observatory. 

If you hike to the top, you will get a nice view of the city on a clear day. 

Halfway to the top of the mountain is the Zijinshan observatory, or the Purple mountain observatory. It was the first modern observatory built in China. You can explore the buildings and see the original apparatuses they used to gaze into the universe. 

Another breathtaking place to visit in the park is Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum. It is a magnificent monument to the work of Dr. Sun, a humanitarian and lover of peace. You will definitely get your work out climbing all the stairs to the top, but it is entirely worth the sweat. 

Near this mausoleum, you will find a large area for food and shopping. It is also a central location to come in via metro or bus. 

In this area, you will also have the chance to walk among the powerful creatures that protect the mausoleum. They are impressive to stand below. My favorite is the elephants. 

Other places to consider visiting are Plum Blossom Hill, one of four plum blossom gardens in China. Here, you will find thousands (13,000 to be exact) of plum trees in full bloom from late February to mid-March. It is indescribable how beautiful they are at this time. 

Another personal favorite is Zixia Lake near Xiaoling Mausoleum. It is peaceful to walk around the lake and sit on the many benches to read or take photos. I especially enjoy this area in the Fall/Autumn months when the trees turn orange, red, and yellow. 

Be sure this is an expansive area, and I have gotten lost many times trying to come down the mountain a different way than I walked in. With that said, don’t hesitate to ask someone for directions. Most people are friendly, and younger people generally know enough English to help you find your way. If in doubt, just follow the crowds. You’ll eventually find yourself out of there. I have used this strategy many, many times. 

After walking around all day, you are going to be exhausted. I suggest going for a nice dinner, then get some rest before your next day! 

Fuzimiao / Confucius Temple Area

Time to Explore: 2 to 3 hours 

Fuzimiao is actually the name of the metro stop to take to get to this area. It is located on Metro Line 3, then take exit 2, and follow the people for a 10-minute walk past some cute shops until you see the entrance (always follow the people). 

This is probably the most touristic area in all of Nanjing to visit. It is located on the Qinhuai River, a branch of the Yangtze River. Similar to Purple Mountain, there are several places of interest to visit here. 

The most popular place in this area is the Confucius Temple, which was built to commemorate the famous sage, Confucius. 

You will also find Zhonghua Gate, the largest city door in China. 

Between these places, you will see many shops, restaurants, and food vendors selling tasty snacks. Don’t hesitate to order some Chinese pancakes. They are one of my favorite snacks to eat in China. This is also the best place to pick up some souvenirs to take home. 

Nanjing City Wall and Xuanwu Lake 

Time to explore: 2 to 3 hours 

After eating your snacks and buying your souvenirs, you must go to Xuanwu Lake and the city wall. If you are coming from Fuzimiao area, walk back to Metro line 3, and go to Jimingsi Station (by my house!) and walk for about 5 minutes until you see a massive wall. Alternatively, you can take metro line 1 to Zhonghuanmen or Xuanwumen, and you will walk out to the wall immediately. 

 It’s absolutely beautiful to walk around the lake, visit the little islands, and maybe rent a swan boat to paddle in. From the lake, you can also visit part of the Nanjing City Wall. It is one of the longest city walls in all of China, second to Xi’an, and represents 600 years of history. It’s amazing to see the different gates and walk along the top of it. They host a marathon atop the wall every year! 

The history of the wall is very complex and fascinating. There are four parts to the wall: The first being the Outer City, which no longer exists. The Inner-city wall is the wall you can see today. Next were the Imperial City and Palace City walls that protected the Palace and nicknamed the ‘Forbidden City.’ 

Fun fact: if you go to Beijing and visit the ‘Forbidden City’ it is a replica of Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty! 

Drink and Nightlife

1912 in Xinjiecko 

This is a large area filled with clubs, bars, restaurants. You can go Western for dinner, then hit up some clubs to have some drinks and dance the night away. You will find locals, tourists, and other ex-pats intermingling here. If you stay out late, be sure there is a fleet of taxis ready to take your drunk butt home. 

Catherine’s Park

This is a slightly newer area for clubs and bars located in Gulou. You can find mostly Chinese-run clubs and bars to drink and dance in. It’s a fun place if you like to party. There is also a food vendor outside that sells massive hotdogs and hamburgers until 1a.m., which is obviously the most important part. Same as 1912, there is no shortage of taxis waiting after midnight. 

What to eat? 

My favorite part of any trip is the food. Now, you can go traditional and eat Nanjing duck, duck blood soup, snacks, soup noodles, hot pot, street foods, etc. There is no shortage of “Chinese food” in Nanjing. I would recommend asking hotel staff for a list of good places to eat near your restaurant if you want to have a more traditional cuisine experience. 

Better yet, walk into a hole-in-the-wall food shop and order whatever you can. You will not be disappointed. I do this all the time whenever I can’t find somewhere to eat.  

My favorite Western Restaurants in Nanjing

This list is not exhaustive by any means. These are just the restaurants located more downtown for convenience. 

La Mia Casa in Gulou 

This place serves Italian cuisine from pizza, steaks, pasta, gnocchi to antipasto. It is fresh, delicious, and filled with Italians on any Friday night. It is safe to say that it’s good when you can’t hear your partner for the loud Italians watching a football match. 

Secco’s (Right beside La Mia Casa) 

Ohh, baby. This was my place. This is a bar with a full menu featuring German cuisine. The owners are a German and Chinese couple serving up amazing German-style pizza, meatballs, chicken, and cocktails galore. Be careful because all their cocktails are double shots, so you may be seeing double walking out of this place. They also pour generous glasses of wine. 

Al-Jannat Halal and Indian Restaurant 

This place is located a short walk from Xuanwu Lake from the Ming Dynasty Wall Park. You will find it in the Shizi Bridge area on Walking Street No. 2. It’s incredible Indian / Muslim food. They have all the classic dishes and serve them in massive portions. I definitely recommend this for lunch. In fact, this whole area is filled with loads of food stalls and small eateries. 

Finnegans Wake Irish Bar & The Malt Room 

Finnegans is an Irish-run bar filled with imported whiskey of all varieties. They also serve up Irish-style foods. The owner may walk out with a guitar and start playing “Country Roads” while you eat, so you have been warned. But overall, it is a fun place with a great atmosphere to lounge, have some expensive whiskey, and meet some new people. 

Laomendong Pedestrian Area near Fuzimiao

Similar to the Confucius temple area, you will find a large selection of shops and restaurants. This is a great place to walk around some interesting architecture, purchase some cute gifts and find a place to eat. Here, you can find Motu, serving up American-style burgers. There is also a wide array of local cuisine to choose from.  

Pro Tip: You will never go wrong walking into a crowded restaurant and ordering some food. Go with the flow, enjoy your adventure, and be open to trying new foods. 

What’s the takeaway? 

You won’t be disappointed by taking a couple days to explore Nanjing as a tourist, as a side trip from Shanghai, or as an ex-pat from another city. It’s a fun place for anyone. 

There are also some great places to visit nearby Nanjing for hiking, soaking in hot springs, nearby towns of interest, and more! Let me know in the comments if you would like more information in a future blog post. 

Also, be sure to leave a like if you enjoyed this post! I had a fun time writing it.