CN · Jiangsu · 32.06°N 118.78°E

nanjing

Ming city walls, plane-tree avenues and salted duck beside the Qinhuai River.

Best time
March–May and October–November are comfortable for the walls and tree-lined streets. July–August is very hot and humid; winter is damp and cold.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Direct flights from KL take about 5.5 hours. Lukou Airport is about 45 minutes from the city by metro. Malaysians can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days.
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CN · Jiangsunanjing32.06°N 118.78°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Ming city walls, plane-tree avenues and salted duck beside the Qinhuai River.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingNanjingCN, Jiangsu
KLnanjing
≈ 3,678 km from KL, as the crow flies
Sacrificial Hall, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Capital of six ancient dynasties and later of the Republic of China, Nanjing has some of the country's best-preserved city walls and streets shaded by old plane trees. Walk the wall, eat duck, and spend an evening by the Qinhuai River.

Makan

  1. Salted duckNanjing's signature: tender duck, lightly salted and served cold.Map ↗
  2. Duck blood vermicelli soupGlass noodles with duck blood curd, liver and gizzard in a light broth.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Ming city wallOver 20 km of the 14th-century wall still stands. Walk the top by Xuanwu Lake or at the Zhonghua Gate fortress.Map ↗
  2. Qinhuai River and FuzimiaoLanterns, painted boats and snack streets around the old Confucius Temple, best in the evening.Map ↗
  3. Purple MountainWooded slopes with Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum and the tomb of the first Ming emperor.Map ↗
  4. Nanjing Massacre Memorial HallA sombre museum on the 1937 massacre. Allow time; it's a heavy visit.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Nanjing has an old Hui Muslim community, and halal beef potstickers and beef noodle soup (look for the qingzhen, 清真, signs) are local favourites.
  • Purple Mountain is big. Pick one or two sights rather than trying to see it all in an afternoon.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.