5-Day Nanjing Tour | Classic Combination of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Qinhuai River・Suitable for All Ages

Nanjing, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties by the Yangtze River, boasts the solemn grandeur of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the paddle sounds and lantern reflections of Qinhuai River, and the red walls and leaves of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. Take the elderly to feel the warmth of Ming city bricks, accompany children to listen to historical stories at the Presidential Palace—here, every day offers a chance to encounter the intertwined charm of ancient and modern Jinling. 🗓️ Itinerary Overview Day 1: Arrive in Nanjing → Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum → Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum → Meiling Palace Day 2: Presidential Palace → Nanjing Museum → Xinjiekou Day 3: Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area → Laomendong → Zhonghua Gate City Wall Day 4: Xuanwu Lake → Jiming Temple → Nanjing University Day 5: Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders → Return trip 🗻 Day 1: Zhongshan’s Historic Echoes & Republic of China Traces 📍 Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (5A, free, reservation required) Highlights: The tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 392 steps symbolizing the "Three Principles of the People," with a panoramic view of Nanjing from the top. Elderly can take the scenic area electric cart to the mausoleum gate (10 RMB/person), children can challenge themselves counting the steps, and taking a family photo in front of the Bo’ai Archway is very meaningful. 🕙 Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 (closed Mondays), recommended 9:00-11:00 (less crowded) 📸 Photo Spot: Below Bo’ai Archway (capture the arch and the extended steps, stand on the central axis) 💡 Tips: Steps are gentle but many; elderly can rest in sections; wear comfortable shoes, avoid sandals. 📍 Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (5A, 70 RMB ticket) Highlights: Tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, Stone Elephant Road (ginkgo trees golden in autumn), and the Fangcheng Ming Tower are must-sees. Elderly can stroll along the Sacred Way to see ancient steles, children can listen to Ming Dynasty stories by the "Zhi Long Tang Song" stele, and the red walls with cedar trees look like the Forbidden City in photos. 🕙 Opening Hours: 7:00-18:00 (summer), recommended 13:30-15:30 💰 Fees: Adults 70 RMB, free for seniors over 60, free for children under 1.4 meters 📍 Meiling Palace (30 RMB ticket) Highlights: Villa of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, French-style architecture with a plane tree necklace (looks like a green jewel necklace from above), original piano and furniture inside. Elderly enjoy scenes of Republic of China life, children love the peacocks in the garden (occasionally spreading their tails). 🕙 Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 🍜 Recommended Dining: Zhongshan Scenic Area’s "Nanjing Dapai Dang," must-try Meiling porridge (12 RMB/bowl, sweet and glutinous), salted duck (38 RMB/portion), about 50 RMB per person, with a Republic of China atmosphere. 🏨 Recommended Accommodation: "Jinling Hotel" at Xinjiekou (direct subway to Zhongshan, family rooms available, well-established hotel with good service), prices 600-800 RMB/night. 🏛️ Day 2: Republic of China Era & Cultural Feast 📍 Presidential Palace (4A, 35 RMB ticket) Highlights: A microcosm of modern history, with relics from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Republic of China government, Chiang Kai-shek’s office, and Sun Yat-sen’s temporary presidential office preserved as original. Elderly recall history by viewing the "All Under Heaven for the Public" plaque, children send postcards at the "Republic of China Post Office" (10 RMB each). 🕙 Opening Hours: 8:30-18:00 (closed Mondays), recommended 9:00-12:00 📸 Photo Spot: Presidential Palace main gate (under the "Presidential Palace" plaque, take a formal family photo) 📍 Nanjing Museum (4A, free, reservation required) Highlights: Collections include "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" brick paintings, Yuan blue-and-white porcelain "Xiao He Chasing Han Xin Under the Moon" plum vase, and a Republic of China exhibition recreating old Nanjing street scenes (qipao rental for photos, 50 RMB/set). Children’s area offers archaeological experiences (30 RMB/session), elderly can enjoy calligraphy and painting exhibitions. 🕙 Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays), recommended 14:00-16:30 📍 Xinjiekou (free) Highlights: Nanjing’s busiest commercial district, featuring Deji Plaza (famous restroom must-visit) and the old brand "Lu’s Plum Blossom Cake" (8 RMB each). Elderly can rest in mall seating areas, children can play claw machines (1 RMB per try). 🚤 Day 3: Qinhuai Night Charm & Old City Flavors 📍 Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area (free, boat ride 80 RMB/person) Highlights: The stunning "Ten-Mile Qinhuai" night view, take a painted boat to see lanterns on both banks (best from 19:00-21:00), visit Jiangnan Examination Hall (50 RMB ticket) to see ancient imperial exam sites, elderly listen to boatwomen singing Pingtan (10 RMB per song), children buy Qinhuai lanterns (20 RMB each). 🕙 Recommended Visit Time: 14:00-21:00 📸 Photo Spot: Wende Bridge (capture Qinhuai River reflections, stand in the center of the bridge) 📍 Laomendong (free) Highlights: Reconstructed Ming and Qing dynasty streets, home to Deyun Society (book crosstalk in advance), Jiang Youji Potstickers (12 RMB/portion). Elderly watch shadow puppetry (20 RMB/person), children read picture books at "Xianfeng Bookstore" (Laomendong branch). 📍 Zhonghua Gate City Wall (50 RMB ticket) Highlights: The largest surviving Ming dynasty city wall fortress, walk 1.5 km along the wall to Yuhuamen Gate, elderly can sit on stone benches by the wall to watch Qinhuai River, children play hide-and-seek in the fortress, and the sunset lighting on the wall bricks is stunning. 🌊 Day 4: Lakes and Mountains & Academic Serenity 📍 Xuanwu Lake (4A, free, boat rental 60 RMB/hour) Highlights: China’s largest urban lake, featuring five islets (Yingzhou, Lingzhou, etc.), cherry blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer. Elderly enjoy lake views by boat, children ride the roller coaster at Lingzhou Children’s Park (30 RMB/ride), cycling around the lake (bike rental 30 RMB/hour) is very pleasant. 🕙 Opening Hours: 6:00-22:00, recommended 9:00-12:00 📍 Jiming Temple (4A, 10 RMB ticket, incense voucher 10 RMB) Highlights: "First Temple of the Southern Dynasties," famous for matchmaking blessings, the Medicine Buddha Pagoda offers a high view of Xuanwu Lake. Elderly pray at the Guanyin Hall, children exchange incense vouchers for three sticks (learn etiquette), yellow tiled walls look like a small Forbidden City in photos. 🕙 Opening Hours: 7:30-17:00 📍 Nanjing University (Gulou Campus, free, reservation required) Highlights: Century-old prestigious university, Beida Building (climbing ivy red walls) and camphor tree avenue are must-photo spots. Elderly recall youth at the "National Central University" site, children run on the lawn, soaking in the academic atmosphere. 🕯️ Day 5: Remembering History & Reflective Return 📍 Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (free, reservation required) Highlights: Commemorates 300,000 victims, includes mass grave site and survivor handprint wall, solemn atmosphere. Elderly view historical exhibits to remember the past, children listen to explanations to understand the preciousness of peace, the "Water Dripping Stone" installation inside (one drop every 12 seconds representing a lost life) is thought-provoking. 🕙 Opening Hours: 8:30-16:30 (closed Mondays), recommended 9:00-11:30 💡 Tips: Wear plain-colored clothes; keep quiet, no laughing; bring tissues (may tear up). ✨ Nanjing Survival Guide 1️⃣ Transportation: Metro lines 1-4 cover all attractions (2-6 RMB); sightseeing bus in Zhongshan Scenic Area 5 RMB/ride (must take, saves energy); taxi starting fare 11 RMB, about 15-20 RMB between city attractions. 2️⃣ Clothing: Spring and autumn wear trench coat + thin sweater (cool mornings and evenings), summer wear short sleeves + sun protection (shade in scenic areas but hot), winter wear down jacket + scarf (damp cold), choose non-slip shoes (Ming Xiaoling Stone Elephant Road, city wall steps). 3️⃣ Taboos: No photos or eating inside memorial halls; no stepping on thresholds or loud talking in temples; no touching exhibits in the Presidential Palace. 4️⃣ Accommodation: Choose near Xinjiekou or Confucius Temple (convenient metro), hotels with children’s toothbrushes for families, elevator rooms for elderly (Nanjing is hilly, avoid too much climbing). 🛍️ Must-Buy Souvenirs ① Vacuum-packed salted duck (40 RMB each, old brand "Osmanthus Duck," tender meat) ② Jinling folding fans (50-100 RMB each, bamboo ribs, painted with Qinhuai scenery) ③ Yunjin cultural creations (bookmarks 20 RMB each, scarves 100 RMB each, intangible cultural heritage crafts) ④ Yuhua stone ornaments (30-50 RMB per box, natural patterns, popular with children) Nanjing’s autumn is the ginkgo leaves covering the Stone Elephant Road at Ming Xiaoling; Nanjing’s night is the lanterns on Qinhuai River reflecting on painted boats. Whether you salute your parents at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, chase bubbles with children at Xuanwu Lake, or listen to crosstalk with friends in Laomendong, here are moments that warm your heart. If you come to Nanjing, would you first want to see the red walls and cedar trees or take a painted boat cruise on Qinhuai?