5-Day Nanjing Summer Escape Guide + Must-Try Jinling Delicacies

You must visit this ancient capital of six dynasties in your lifetime~ Here's a carefully curated 5-day itinerary~~[Love][Kiss][Cute]

🌅 **Day 1: Zhongshan Mountain Retreat·Wutong Tree Paradise**
- **Morning**
- Arrive at **Lingyuan Road Wutong Avenue** before 7:00: Enjoy the emerald tunnel in morning light, natural shade cools 5℃+ 📸
- 8:00 **Music Terrace**: Feed pigeons in cool weather, highest chance of flock flights before 9:00 (Ticket ¥10)
- 10:00 **Linggu Temple**: Bamboo breeze at Tan Yankai's tomb + natural AC in Beamless Hall, don't miss vegetarian noodles🍜
- **Afternoon**
- 15:00 **Purple Mountain Insect Museum**: Air-conditioned live rainforest exhibits, perfect for families
- 17:00 **Xuanwu Lake Taicheng Section**: Walk Ming Dynasty city wall (Liberation Gate-Taiping Gate), lake breeze sunset🌇
- **Night**
- 19:30 **Linggu Temple Firefly Paradise** (July-August only): Lantern-lit walk at Zhigong Hall, fireflies like Milky Way✨ (Free)

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🕌 **Day 2: Underground Palaces·Cool Caves**
- **Morning**
- 9:00 **Niushou Mountain** (¥98): Enter via West Gate, take shuttle to Buddha Summit Palace - 18℃ constant temp in Thousand-Buddha Hall❗ Must-see: Buddha's parietal relic + 12m-high "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers" light show (10:00/15:00)
- Creek route: Hidden Dragon Lake boardwalk → Zheng He's Tomb shaded path (90% tourists miss this cool hike)
- **Afternoon**
- 13:00 **Tangshan Ancient Hominid Cave**: 20℃ karst cave with stunning stalactites🌬️
- 15:00 **Quarry Park**: Giant waterfall mist system + futuristic pit theater market
- **Dinner**
- **Jiming Soup Dumplings** at Laomendong: Crab roe & chrysanthemum leaf dumplings + iced sweet taro dessert

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🌃 **Day 3: Museums·Qinhuai Night Cruise**
- **Morning**
- 9:00 **Nanjing Museum** (Book 7 days ahead!): Head straight to Republic-era street scenes📸, qipao photos by vintage train; see jade burial suit treasure
- **Afternoon**
- 14:00 **Presidential Palace** (Closed Mondays!): Avoid crowds, qipao photos in Jiangnan gardens📸
- 16:00 **Pioneer Bookstore (Wutaishan Flagship)**: Magical cross-shaped corridor light, rare used books
- **Night**
- 18:30 **Laomendong**: Try Jiang Youji pot stickers & Lan Laoda sweet congee, skip crowded Confucius Temple
- 20:00 **Qinhuai Night Cruise** (West Route ¥80): Depart from Panchi Pier, enjoy "Jasmine Flower" light show🌙

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🍜 **Day 4: Foodie Adventure·Hidden Gems**
- **Breakfast**
- 7:00 **Fangpo Cake Shop**: Glutinous rice rolls with fried dough + fermented rice balls (Locals' breakfast shrine)
- **Morning**
- 9:00 **Six Dynasties Museum** (¥30): I.M. Pei-designed celadon walls, "Wang Xizhi's Social Circle" special exhibit
- 11:00 **Yilu Road**: Republic-era yellow walls & wutong trees at Jiangsu Road corner, collect stamps📮
- **Afternoon**
- **Choose:**
✅ **Water Park**: Tangshan Happy Water Magic (¥160), hurricane wave pool + extreme slides
✅ **Artsy Escape**: Shijiu Lake "Sky Mirror" (S9 Mingjue Station), photograph "Spirited Away" sea train🌊
- **Late Night**
- Kelang Night Market: Xu Auntie rice cakes, Grandma's stinky tofu, balut (for the brave)

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🌊 **Day 5: Free Water Fun**
- **All Day**
- **Zhenzhuquan Scenic Area** (Free today!):
- Discover 23℃ spring, photograph "underwater stars" bubble wonder📱
- Family water play: Stone dam fishing + water gun battles💦
- Optional add-on: **Zhenzhuquan Water World** (¥59.9): Pink sand beach + EDM wave party (14:00-22:00)

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🏨 **Accommodation & Tips**
- **Hotels**:
- Xinjiekou (Transport hub): Novotel Nanjing (¥180/night, metro access)
- Confucius Temple (Great night views): Misty Qinhuai B&B (Code 9250160)
- **Essentials**:
- Foldable silicone seat pad (hot stone→cool chair), handheld mist fan, mosquito repellent
- **Transport**:
- Metro covers 90% attractions (Alipay e-card), e-bikes beat shuttle buses in Zhongshan

> 💡 **Key Notes**:
> ① Book Nanjing Museum/Zhongshan Mausoleum **7 days ahead**, Presidential Palace closed Mondays;
> ② Food timing: Li Ji pot stickers at 7:00/14:00, Zhang Yun duck breast is tenderer;
> ③ Zhenzhuquan free today (Aug 4), water world separate ticket - don't miss out!

This itinerary balances culture with summer comfort, including 3-hour midday breaks. Nanjing's profound history and local flavors reveal themselves slowly - may you discover Jinling's poetic charm under wutong shade and Qinhuai lanterns.