Nanjing has returned. This is how you can enjoy yourself without wasting money.

"3-day budget trip in Nanjing, 400 yuan per person‼️Locals' private routes + niche filming locations📸 (with student benefits)"
📅 Day 1: Classic landmark walking route
Route: Ancient Jiming Temple → Ming City Wall → Xuanwu Lake → Laomendong → Confucius Temple Qinhuai River 💰Total cost: 70 yuan (including tickets + food)
- Ancient Jiming Temple (10 yuan): Buy a paper ticket and skip the line! Exported vegetarian food has a cat paw stamp 🐾, free of charge!
-Ming City Wall (15 yuan): Entrance next to Jiming Temple, aerial view of Cherry Blossom Avenue + Zifeng Building in the same frame📸.
-Xuanwu Lake (free): Enter from Jiefang Gate of the city wall. The sunset by the lake is so beautiful. Boating costs 30 yuan per person (for 4 people).
- Lao Mendong (free): blue brick alley + rose wall, Lu's plum blossom cake (8 yuan) and Jiang Youji pot stickers (12 yuan) are must-try!
-Confucius Temple (free): The night view is a must-see, but don’t shop! Walk to Taoye Ferry to take photos of the Qinhuai River from a niche location🌉.
💡Tips: Metro Line 3 runs through the entire route, and it’s a great place to check in and take photos while wearing Hanfu/New Chinese style!
📅 Day 2: Nature + History Healing Tour
Route: Zhongshan Scenic Area (Wutong Avenue → Music Stage → Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum) → Nanjing Museum → Kexiang Night Market 💰Total cost: 60 yuan (half price for students + food)
- Zhongshan Scenic Area (combined ticket 50 yuan):
Exit Alfalfa Garden subway station and walk to Lingyuan Road and Wutong Avenue. The light and shadow in the early morning are absolutely beautiful.
Music station (10 yuan) arrive before 9 o'clock! Pigeons flying in groups + bring your own bread to feed them🕊️.
-Nanjing Museum (free): Make an appointment 7 days in advance! Go straight to the Republic of China Pavilion and take cheongsam photos in the retro street scene📻.
-Kexiang: Auntie Xu’s Green Rice Dumpling (5 yuan), Tong Fuxing’s Lion Head (40 yuan per person), certified by locals as a no-brainer!
💡Tips: The shuttle bus at Zhongshan Scenic Area has a long queue, renting a shared bicycle is more free🚴♀️!
📅 Day 3: Cute + cultural niche route
Route: Hongshan Zoo → Yihe Road → Pioneer Bookstore → Xinjiekou Shopping District 💰Total cost: 75 yuan (including tickets + food)
-Hongshan Zoo (40 yuan): Enter through the north gate at 8:30! Go straight to the panda house 🐼, the hand-painted popular science in the local area is super healing~
-Yihe Road (free): Republican-era architecture + shadows of Wutong trees, navigate to "West Bridge" to take photos of the popular Zifeng Building location📷.
- Pioneer Bookstore (free): One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It is very meaningful to write a travel diary on the postcard wall📖.
-Xinjiekou: Take away vacuum-packed roast duck (35 yuan for half a duck) at Jinhongxing Duck Shop in Mingwalang Snack Street!
💡Tips: Luggage can be stored for free at Hongshan Zoo, and you can walk 20,000 steps in sneakers👟!
🏠 Tips on saving money on accommodation
-First choice: Youth hostel next to Daxinggong/Zhangfuyuan subway station (50 yuan per person per night), with convenient and safe transportation.
- Alternative: Jiangning University Town B&B (80 yuan per person per night), Metro Line 1 goes directly to the city center.
🍜Food red and black list
✅Must eat:
1. Xiao Pan Ji Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup (18 Yuan) | Rich in ingredients and delicious in soup
2. Lee Kee Muslim Restaurant Beef Pot Stickers (12 Yuan) | Be careful with the juicy potstickers!
3. Jinling Wharf Club·Nanjing Cuisine (50 yuan per person)｜Sweet and sour squirrel fish appetizer
❌Avoid: All snacks in the Confucius Temple scenic area!
📸 Dressing suggestions for the photo shoot
-Ancient style: Wear Hanfu at Jiming Temple/Laomendong, rental is 50 yuan/day.
-Literature and Art: Pioneer Bookstore/Yihe Road Wear a light-colored dress + a straw bag.
-Yuanqi: Wearing denim overalls + colorful hat at Hongshan Zoo🧢.