Nanjing 3-Day Tour
Nanjing Six Dynasties Essence: Imperial Tombs + City Wall + Qinhuai Night River
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Scenic Area + Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum + Meiling Palace + Linggu Scenic Area
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Scenic Area
The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's democratic revolution, located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain in Xuanwu District, Nanjing. The mausoleum's design blends traditional Chinese architectural styles with Western architectural concepts, embodying profound Chinese culture. Built against the mountain, the mausoleum complex is magnificent and comprises major structures such as the archway, mausoleum gate, stele pavilion, sacrificial hall, and burial chamber. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Scenic Area
The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is the joint burial tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his empress Ma. It is located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain, east of Nanjing's historic center. Legend has it that to prevent grave robbery, 13 identical funeral processions departed from 13 city gates to confuse the true burial site. Construction of the mausoleum began in 1381 during Zhu Yuanzhang's lifetime and was completed in 1405 (during the reign of the Yongle Emperor), costing immense human and material resources and employing 100,000 laborers. The original mausoleum walls stretched over 22.5 kilometers and were heavily guarded by 5,000 soldiers. The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's largest imperial tombs, renowned for its unique architectural style, grand scale, and rich historical and cultural significance.
Meiling Palace
Meiling Palace, also known as Meiling Villa, was officially named the Residence of the Chairman of the National Government. It is located in the Zhongshan Scenic Area, about 6 kilometers from Nanjing city center, at the foot of Zijin Mountain, and is Nanjing's largest villa, covering an area of over 2000 square meters. Meiling Palace was completed in 1934, originally serving as the official residence for the Chairman of the National Government. Chiang Kai-shek gifted this residence to Soong Mei-ling on her birthday (March 4th), and the couple moved in during the summer of 1936. Later, it was used as a base for officials visiting the nearby Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. After the Sino-Japanese War ended in 1946, the National Government moved back to Nanjing, and Chiang Kai-shek used this villa as his official residence. The villa's exterior features traditional Chinese style, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof covered in green glazed tiles. Over a thousand phoenixes are carved onto the roof tiles. Chinese artist Chen Zhifo (1896-1962) adorned the eaves with birds and flowers. From an aerial view, the trees surrounding the villa form a necklace shape. The interior decoration is Western-style. The building has two main floors, a basement, and a mezzanine between the first and second floors. The basement houses an exhibition of Soong Mei-ling's paintings. The second floor features a private chapel.
Linggu Scenic Area
Linggu Scenic Area is located in Xuanwu District, Nanjing City, and is an important part of the Zhongshan Scenic Area. It attracts numerous tourists with its profound historical and cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery. The scenic area features famous attractions such as Linggu Temple, Beamless Hall, and Linggu Pagoda, representing a perfect blend of Buddhist culture and natural landscapes. The environment here is serene and the air is fresh, making it an ideal place to escape the city's hustle and bustle and seek inner peace. Visitors can stroll along ancient paths to experience the vicissitudes of history, or climb the pagoda for a panoramic view of Zhongshan's beautiful scenery.
2
Nanjing City Wall Taicheng Section + Zhonghua Gate - Nanjing City Wall + Presidential Palace + Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre
Nanjing City Wall Taicheng Scenic Area
The Nanjing City Wall Taicheng Scenic Area is located at No. 8 Jiefangmen, Jiming Temple Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing City, and is part of the Nanjing Ming City Wall. The Nanjing Ming City Wall is the longest, largest, and best-preserved city wall in the world. The Taicheng section boasts beautiful scenery and is an important attraction for visitors to learn about Nanjing's history and culture and enjoy the city's landscape.
Zhonghua Gate - Nanjing City Wall
Zhonghua Gate Barbican is part of the Nanjing City Wall, and is the largest and best-preserved castle-style barbican existing in China. It is also the largest among the thirteen city gates of the Nanjing Ming City Wall. It represents the highest level of ancient Chinese military architecture and possesses significant historical and cultural value.
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace in Nanjing is located at 292 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing City, and is one of the important historical sites of modern Chinese history. It was once the Han King's Mansion during the Ming Dynasty, the Viceroy's Yamen of Liangjiang during the Qing Dynasty, expanded into the Heavenly King's Mansion during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, became the Provisional Presidential Palace of the Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution, and became the Presidential Palace of the National Government after 1927. After the People's Liberation Army occupied Nanjing in 1949, it became the seat of the Jiangsu Provincial Government. Today, it is the Museum of Modern Chinese History Sites.
Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders
The Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders is a museum established to commemorate the victims massacred by the Japanese invaders in Nanjing and its surrounding areas after the fall of Nanjing on December 13, 1937. The memorial hall is located at Jiangdongmen, Nanjing, near the site of a 'mass grave' (Wanrenkeng) where thousands of bodies are buried. The memorial hall was built by the Nanjing Municipal People's Government in 1985 and was expanded and renovated in 1995. Through architecture, sculptures, images, and a large number of historical relics, the memorial hall recreates the tragic history of the Nanjing Massacre. Many historical items were donated by Japanese members of a Japan-China friendship group. The memorial hall covers a total area of approximately 28,000 square meters, with a building area of about 3,000 square meters, and is mainly composed of three parts: an outdoor exhibition area, a hall for the remains of the victims, and a historical data exhibition hall. Admission is free, but advance reservation is required.
3
Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Belt + Laomendong + Zhanyuan Garden + Great Bao’en Temple Ruins
Fuzimiao-Qinhuai Scenic Belt
The Fuzimiao-Qinhuai Scenic Belt is located in Nanjing City. Centered around the Confucius Temple and with the ten-mile Qinhuai River as its axis, it connects numerous historical and cultural attractions and natural landscapes. This area integrates culture, tourism, shopping, and dining, making it one of Nanjing's iconic attractions. A night cruise on the Qinhuai River is a major highlight, where the ancient buildings on both banks appear exceptionally charming under the illumination of lights.
Laomendong
Laomendong Historical and Cultural Block is an ancient place name in the old city south area of Nanjing. It is located east of Zhonghua Gate in Qinhuai District, Nanjing City. Due to its location east of Nanjing's south gate (i.e., Zhonghua Gate), it is called 'Mendong' (East Gate). Laomendong is a historical and cultural protection zone in Nanjing, and an important historical and cultural heritage site for Nanjing and even the whole country. It preserves a large number of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, including traditional residences, official mansions, and alleys, making it an excellent place to understand Nanjing's traditional culture and folk customs. Within the block, there are historical buildings such as the former residences of Jiang Shoushan and Fu Shanxiang, as well as various handicraft shops, specialty snack bars, and tea houses, making it a comprehensive block integrating history, culture, leisure, entertainment, dining, and shopping.
Zhan Garden
Zhan Garden, also known as the 'First Garden of Jinling', is located at 128 Zhanyuan Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing. It is a historic Chinese garden, originally built in the early Ming Dynasty, expanded from the mansion garden of Xu Da, Prince of Zhongshan. It was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in the Qing Dynasty and later rebuilt. The garden houses the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom History Museum, showcasing a wealth of historical relics and materials. Zhan Garden is renowned for its exquisite garden architecture, rockeries, waterside pavilions, kiosks, and unique Jiangnan garden style, making it an important historical and cultural attraction in Nanjing.
Dabao'en Temple Heritage Scenic Area
The Dabao'en Temple Heritage Scenic Area is located at No. 1 Yuhua Road, outside Zhonghua Gate, Qinhuai District, Nanjing. It is one of the birthplaces of Chinese Buddhism and a royal temple from the medieval Ming Dynasty. The magnificent Dabao'en Temple Pagoda once stood here, hailed as the 'First Pagoda in the World,' but unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion. Today, the heritage park has reconstructed a new pagoda and temple on the original site, and, combining modern technology, showcases precious relics such as the underground palace and sacred artifacts from the crypt. It is a comprehensive scenic area that integrates historical culture, Buddhist culture, and modern technology. Visitors can explore the heritage museum to learn about the historical evolution of Dabao'en Temple, admire exquisite glazed components and artifacts unearthed from the crypt, and experience the profoundness of Buddhist culture. The scenic area also hosts activities such as lamp-lighting ceremonies, offering visitors a unique cultural experience.
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