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) --- 🕌 **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 --- 🌃 **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🌙 --- 🍜 **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) --- 🌊 **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) --- 🏨 **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.