4 Days Nanjing In-depth Tour

Today you will be met by your guide and driver at the appointed place. Then your tour will begin with the first sight -- Nanjing Museum. It is one of the 3 most popular museums in China and the oldest museum in China. There is a rich collection of more than 400,000 cultural relics from the past dynasties, including Yingyuan, the oldest gold coinage in China, which can be traced back to 2500 years ago. Nanjing as the ancient capital of 6 dynasties has contained the memories and spirits of China for thousands of years. You will deeply understand the history and culture of this ancient and legendary city by learning the stories behind each precious cultural relic.

After understanding the city from documentation and relics, let us get to know it by contacting it. We will drive to Xuanwu Lake which once was the imperial garden belonging to the royal family of the Ming Dynasty and is also the largest and the only existing imperial garden lake in the southern Yangtze River. We will also explore the Ancient City Wall which is just located beside the lake. It is the largest scale and best preserved ancient city wall in the world and has protected Nanjing city for more than 700 years.

In the evening, we will stroll around Confucius Temple - Qinhuai River Scenic Area to feel the charms of Qinhuai culture. When night falls, the lights will be suddenly turned on and then the buildings alongside the river and the boats floating on the river will be coated with radiant garments. The quaint street turns into a bustling bazaar in a moment. Confucius Temple is not very prevalent in China nowadays, while the one in Nanjing is well-known around China. Different from any of the temples churches and mosques, the religious content in Confucius temples is not very strong. Most visitors come here just for interest and worshiping is not regularly practiced but just done when someone wants or needs. 

Today, let's take a closer look at modern China. Nanjing is an exceptional city for exploring this topic, as it was once the capital of the Republic of China. Our first stop will be the Nanjing Presidential Palace. This palace is the largest and best-preserved building complex in modern Chinese history, maintaining its original appearance. There is no better place to learn about the architectural features of modern Chinese mansions. The palace is historically significant as it was where Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Republic of China, was inaugurated. Additionally, the last president, Chiang Kai-shek, spent much of his political career here before fleeing to Taiwan.

Afterward, we will head to Meiling Palace, which is located near the presidential palace. On the way, we will drive through one of the most beautiful avenues in the world—Wutong Avenue. The tall, lush French Platanus trees line both sides of the avenue, creating the sensation of passing through an open-air tunnel. Meiling Palace is surrounded by an even denser forest of French Platanus. When viewed from a higher point, the surrounding trees resemble a massive necklace, with the palace itself appearing as a sapphire set within it. The color of this “necklace” changes with the seasons, so each time you visit, you may witness a different and extraordinary spectacle. Meiling Palace is considered the greatest villa in the Far East. It is said that Song Meiling, the wife of Chiang Kai-shek, played a significant role in the design of the palace. Initially, the palace was referred to as the residence of the chairman of the national government. However, since Chiang and Song frequently stayed there, the name gradually evolved into Meiling Palace.

Next, we will visit another remarkable site in Nanjing: the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. This mausoleum is designed in a traditional Chinese style while also incorporating elements of Western architecture. As the first president of modern China and a heroic figure who led the Chinese people in overthrowing the monarchy, Sun Yat-sen is highly admired by the Chinese population. In his honor, a magnificent mausoleum was constructed to commemorate his contributions.

Today, we will take a slight detour to visit Niushou Mountain. The name "Niushou" in Chinese translates to "head of a bull," which reflects the shape of the mountain's peak. Although the scenic area is relatively new—construction began in 2012 and opened to the public in 2015—the mountain itself has a long history that dates back to the Jing Dynasty in 317 AD. A key highlight of the scenic area is Usnisa Palace, known for its extraordinary beauty, grandeur, and solemnity. This palace houses the only known Sakyamuni usnisa sarira in the world, which was discovered in the Ashoka Pagoda built during the Tang Dynasty. The sarira was subsequently buried in the underground palace of Dabaoen Temple. Due to its mystique and sacred significance, the Unisa Sarira has attracted millions of visitors from around the globe who come to admire it or catch a glimpse of this remarkable artifact.

Jinling Town is located to the west of Niushou Mountain. It is a newly built town where all the buildings are designed in the Tang style and restored based on historical records. Jinling is the ancient name of Nanjing, derived from the term "golden mountain," which refers to Zhongshan Mountain. Walking through this charming town will transport you back to the Tang dynasty, as the surroundings are incredibly realistic. You can stroll around to soak in the atmosphere of that era, and if you'd like, you can even rent a set of Hanfu to take memorable photos against the quaint backdrop.

After breakfast, we will drive to the Qixia Mountain Scenic Area. The mountain is not as high as most of the famous mountains in China and the area of it is also relatively small, but what makes it well-known is the history and culture endowed by the emperors and poets who have ever visited this mountain. There is a saying in Nanjing: “Half the history of Jinling (Nanjing) is concentrated in Qixia Mountain”, which well describes the feature of this mountain. The autumn scenery in Qixia Mountain is also breathtaking. When the color of the leaves changed into red, orange, and yellow, the whole mountain became extraordinarily gorgeous just like a fairyland!

We will head west to Zhongshan Mountain, where the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is located. This mausoleum is the burial site of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming dynasty, and his wife, Empress Ma. It was designated a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2003. In Chinese, “Xiao” means “filial piety,” and “ling” refers to tombs or mountains, which reflects Zhu Yuanzhang's ambition to govern the country with the principle of filial piety. Another interpretation suggests that Zhu loved his wife so deeply that he named their mausoleum after her posthumous title, “Xiaoci.” Ming Xiaoling is one of the largest emperor's mausoleums in China and is remarkably well-preserved, maintaining its original appearance. As you walk around this solemn site, you can immerse yourself in the distant past. Ming Xiaoling is one of the largest emperor's mausoleums in China and is remarkably well-preserved, maintaining its original appearance. As you walk around this solemn site, you can immerse yourself in the distant past.

Later in the day, drive back to downtown Nanjing and your 4 days’ trip will come to the end. You will be transferred to the airport or train station according to the schedule. Wish you a pleasant journey and hope to see you again in your next China trip!