Nanjing 3 days 2 nights walking tour guide, local hidden gems revealed! Eat salted duck under the phoenix trees, watch the sunrise at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum… This is the real way to experience Jinling!
Who says Nanjing is only "melancholy"?
Wrong! This city has the misty charm of the Six Dynasties and the neon glow of cyberpunk.
By day, watch the clouds roll over the 600-year-old city wall; by night, enjoy skewers and beer by the Qinhuai River!
History and everyday life collide here in full force!
Stop just skimming the surface! This 【authentic tested + local-guided】 3 days 2 nights itinerary lets you see epic sights and eat until you can barely walk!
✅ Day 1: Slow Life in Old South City | Phoenix Trees + Republic of China Style + Local Vibes Triple Hit
Morning: Yihe Road Mansion Area
Over 300 small Republic of China-style Western buildings hidden among phoenix trees, every snapshot looks like a scene from the movie "Love Letter"!
Hidden gem: Turn into "Xianfeng Bookstore (Wutaishan Main Store)" 📖, have a coffee in the church-turned-book hall, and instantly calm your soul.
Noon: Kexiang Market
Local dining hall! Missing this means missing out!
✔️ Taoji Authentic Texas Roasted Chicken (Lotus root cakes are a must-buy!)
✔️ Osmanthus sugar taro shoots, sweet to the core
✔️ Zhao’s fried tofu, worth the 20-minute line!
Evening: Confucius Temple × Qinhuai River Night Tour
Don’t just take photos and check in! Here’s the authentic way to play:
✅ Take a painted boat night cruise (ticket 50 RMB, recommended after 7 PM when all lights are on)
✅ Walk the Dongpailou Snack Street: Jiang Youji potstickers + Lianhu Cake Shop’s red bean glutinous rice balls
⚠️ Avoid: The “internet-famous stinky tofu” on the main street of Confucius Temple is overpriced and tastes bad!
✅ Day 2: Imperial Majesty × Artistic Style | A Stunning Journey Through a Thousand Years
Early morning 5:30 AM: Rush to the top of Purple Mountain · Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Don’t wait until noon when it’s crowded! Get up early to watch a Jinling sunrise, with rolling seas of clouds awakening the whole city in golden light.
Photo spot: After reaching the top, turn back and shoot the stairs, layered like a stairway to heaven!
Morning: Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum + Shixiang Road
Golden ginkgo in autumn, frost-covered branches in winter, unbelievably beautiful!
Secret entrance: Walk through the Plum Blossom Mountain trail, fewer people and stunning views, instantly feel like the heroine of a costume drama!
Afternoon: Nanjing Museum (Free! But book 3 days in advance!)
Must-see:
✔️ History Hall: Golden-thread jade burial suit, Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove brick paintings
✔️ Republic of China Hall: Real-scene street perfect for photos, instantly transported to old Shanghai!
✔️ Digital Hall: AR technology brings artifacts to life, kids won’t want to leave!
Day 3: Artistic Youth’s Healing Day | City Wall + River View + Coffee Freedom
Morning: Xuanwu Lake Loop Walk
Climb the **Ming City Wall** from Liberation Gate, lake on the left, Zhong Mountain on the right, and with the breeze, all worries fly away 💨
Check-in spot: The “most beautiful city wall corner” at the Shence Gate section
Afternoon: Laomendong
Quieter than Confucius Temple, more interesting than malls!
✔️ Find a second-floor café (recommended "Shiyi"), stare at the horse-head walls in a daze
✔️ Must-eats: Xiao Zheng’s crispy sesame cakes, Lu’s plum blossom cakes, and fermented rice balls at the entrance of Deyun Society
Bonus Tips:
Subway + shared bike = Nanjing’s best travel combo!
Salted duck recommendation: "Jinhongxing," vacuum-packed for perfect gifts!
Photo outfit suggestions: Morandi colors / qipao / new Chinese style, 200% photo-worthy!
💬 Interaction Time:
Which side of Nanjing is in your heart?
Is it the romance of phoenix tree rain? Or the warmth of a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup?
Tell me in the comments, and 3 fans will win a 【Nanjing Hand-drawn Map】!
Follow me to see every city through the eyes of a local!
Post by MidnightBlazefire_34 | Oct 23, 2025
