Xuanwu Gate:

Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Xuanwu Gate Station. It's a five-minute walk to the gate, which now serves as the entrance to Xuanwu Lake Park. Upon entering, visitors can see Xuanwu Lake and have the option to explore the park or walk along the city wall, enjoying a bird's-eye view of the lake and a distant view of Zhongshan Mountain. If visiting in spring, you can also admire the flowers in the royal garden.

Jiming Temple:

Walking from Xuanwu Gate through the famous Sakura Avenue, you will see the gate of Jiming Temple with the four golden characters "Gu Jiming Si" in the center. To the left is the Food Offering Platform, in front of which stands the Maitreya Hall, followed by the Daxiong Baodian (Great Buddha Hall) and Guanyin Tower. Jiming Temple is located on the left side of the road with a one-way entrance, so it's recommended to approach from the left. Spring is the best time to visit, especially from March to mid-April when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. For a bird's-eye view of Sakura Avenue, you can ascend the city wall at Jiefang Gate beforehand. This place was also a filming location for the TV series "New Legend of White Snake" starring Angela Zhang. Due to the surge in visitors on weekends, it's advisable to visit on weekdays.

Nanjing University (Gulou Campus):

Nanjing University's Gulou Campus is within walking distance from Jiming Temple. The most iconic building worth seeing in this century-old institution is the North Building, a striking western-style brick-and-wood structure that inspired Yu Guangzhong to write, "Ivy climbs all over the North Building." Besides the North Building, the two ancient steles inscribed with "Liangjiang Normal School" and "Jinling University" in front of the old library are also great photo spots, recording the history of Nanjing University. Additionally, Zhongshan Building is also worth a visit.

Presidential Palace of Nanjing:

Take Metro Line 1 to Xinjiekou Station, then transfer to Bus No. 3 and get off at the Presidential Palace stop. The Presidential Palace is a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, featuring western office buildings and Chinese gardens. It is divided into three visiting areas: central, western, and eastern, each housing a series of historical exhibits and restored displays, as well as wax figures recreating historical scenes. You can start by exploring the central area along the axis and then proceed to the western or eastern areas. After visiting the Presidential Palace, you can also check out the popular Xianfeng Bookstore loved by Nanjing's literary youth. The admission ticket is a postal card, which you can mail at the post office within the scenic area after your visit. The park closes at 4 PM and clears out at 5 PM.

Nanjing 1912 Street:

Take Metro Line 2 to Daxinggong Station and walk for about 10 minutes to reach Nanjing 1912 Street. The street is characterized by its exquisite and well-arranged buildings that blend classical and modern styles. Many old buildings have been transformed into restaurants and bars, reminiscent of Shanghai's Xintiandi or Beijing's Sanlitun. It's a great place to enjoy a variety of international and local snacks and have a drink at night to end your day. The street is also popular among artistic youth for its numerous handicraft shops, and the famous "From Your World to Mine" themed restaurant opened by Zhang Jiajia is also located here.

Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders:

After getting off at Yunjin Road Station on Metro Line 2, you will arrive at this place. The memorial hall comprehensively displays the history of the "Nanjing Massacre" through a combination of historical artifacts, architecture, sculptures, films, and other means. The exhibition hall is divided into three parts: the plaza display, the historical material display, and the bone remains display. The plaza features a cross-shaped marker recording the time of the massacre, a "Wailing Wall" inscribed with the names of the victims, relief sculptures depicting the historical facts of the massacre, a large stone sculpture of a mother, and the "Mass Grave" site. Please bring tissues, dress appropriately, keep your phone on silent, and no photography is allowed. The museum closes at 5 PM.

Yuhuatai Scenic Area:

Take Metro Line 3 to Wudingmen Station, exit 2, and walk for about five minutes to reach the scenic area. Yuhuatai is divided into six major sections, among which the "Second Spring of Jiangnan" (also known as Yuhuatai Spring) in the historic site and scenic spot area is the most famous. It has two spring sources, with water emerging one meter above the ground. The poet Lu You once brewed tea with water from Yuhuatai Spring, and now there is a century-old teahouse called "Erquan Teahouse" where you can enjoy tea if you're interested. From March to June, there is a large-scale azalea exhibition for flower viewing. During the Qingming Festival, the plum blossoms blooming everywhere on the eastern slope of Yuhuatai are a great place to appreciate them.

Laomendong Historic District:

Walking from Yuhuatai, you will arrive at this place located east of the South Gate of Nanjing, hence the name "Mendong", opposite to Laomenxi. It is an important part of the Qinhuai Scenic Belt around Nanjing's Confucius Temple, situated to the south of Goutong Alley. Historically, the old southern part of Nanjing was the most developed area for commerce and residence. Nowadays, traditional Chinese wooden buildings and horse-head walls have been rebuilt in the traditional style to recreate the original appearance of the old southern part of the city. Deyun Society is also located here, where you can choose to listen to a crosstalk performance in your free time.

Xinjiekou:

Take Metro Line 1 for two stops to reach Xinjiekou, the center of Nanjing and currently the city's most famous fashion shopping landmark, similar to Xujiahui in Shanghai or Taikoo Li in Chengdu. The most famous area in Xinjiekou is around the statue of Sun Yat-sen, where you can find shopping centers such as Central Mall, Xinbai Shopping Center, and Dayang Department Store. However, the underground shopping area is even more bustling. From the side of Central Mall or directly from the subway into Leidi Plaza underground, you will find a dazzling array of small accessories, various trendy fashions, novel items, and uniquely decorated shops filled with young people.

Wu Yi Lane:

Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Sanshanjie Station. Wu Yi Lane is located south of the Confucius Temple and was once the barracks for the troops guarding Stone City during the Three Kingdoms period under the Wu dynasty. The famous poem "Wu Yi Lane" by the poet Liu Yuxi, which goes "Wild flowers bloom beside Zhuque Bridge, and the setting sun casts its rays on the entrance of Wu Yi Lane. The swallows that once nested in the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people," has made this lane renowned far and wide. Although history has passed, its traces still remain.

Zhan Yuan Garden:

You can reach Zhan Yuan Garden by taking Metro Line 1 to Sanshanjie Station or Metro Line 3 to Confucius Temple Station. It is the oldest existing garden in Nanjing. Also known as the Great Ming Palace or the First Garden of Jinling, Zhan Yuan boasts many scenic spots and architectural features. You can appreciate the beauty of the garden in its tranquility. Notable attractions include the South Rockery, the first spot you'll encounter after turning left from the entrance, and the North Rockery located in the northern part of the garden. In front of the rockery lies a lake, with Suihan Pavilion and Guanyu Pavilion on either side. Since Zhan Yuan was once the residence of Xu Da, a founding general of the Ming dynasty, a visit to the Yanan Hall is a must. The first floor of the hall displays oil paintings of important historical stone inscriptions related to Xu Da's life, while the second floor showcases maps of key battles he commanded and historical materials from the early Ming dynasty.

Confucius Temple:

You can walk for ten minutes from Sanshanjie Station on Metro Line 1 or take Metro Line 3 to Confucius Temple Station. The Confucius Temple is the main attraction of the Qinhuai River Scenic Belt. In the Folk Art Grand View Garden, you can watch live demonstrations of lantern making, paper cutting, micro-carving, and other crafts, as well as listen to local operas and Nanjing dialect performances. The most famous attraction within the temple is the main hall, Dachengdian, which hangs a six-meter-high portrait of Confucius, considered a masterpiece among Chinese Confucius temples. After visiting the Confucius Temple, be sure to sample the snacks along the Qinhuai River and pick up some affordable souvenirs with Qinhuai characteristics.

Qinhuai River:

The Qinhuai River is the mother river of Nanjing. A river cruise on the Qinhuai River is a must-try experience. You can board a boat at the dock opposite the Confucius Temple for a 50-minute journey. A visit to the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall is highly recommended to experience the imperial examination system. The museum at the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall is excellently designed and can be explored for a good two hours. Wende Bridge is the best spot for taking photos of the Qinhuai River, offering excellent photo opportunities.

Nanjing Museum:

Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Minggugong Station, then walk for 3 minutes to reach the museum. The main building of the museum is divided into two parts, left and right. After walking a short distance on the right, you will find the old main hall of the museum, which is a replica of the Dule Temple and is now used for security checks instead of displaying exhibits. Behind the "Dule Temple" is the History Hall, while the other five halls are on the left side. It is recommended to start with the History Hall, as the Special Exhibition Hall, which houses the "treasures of the museum," is located on its left. You can follow the route of History Hall - Special Exhibition Hall - Digital Hall - Republic of China Hall - Art Hall - Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall to explore the entire museum. From 2 PM to 4 PM, you can watch 3D performances of Kun Opera, Nanjing Baiju, Pingtan, and other arts in the small theater. The museum closes at 12 PM in the morning, but it is open all day during national holidays. It is closed for maintenance on New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year every year.

Meiling Palace:

Continue taking Metro Line 2 and get off at Muxuyuan Station, then transfer to a scenic tour bus or take Bus No. 34 to reach Meiling Palace. Meiling Palace is a three-story, double-eaves mountain-style palace building with green glazed tiles on the roof. More than 1,000 phoenixes are carved on the glazed tiles of its eaves, making it a unique example in China where the ground floor is used for reception rooms, secretary offices, etc. The western part of the second floor is a reception room and living room, while the eastern part is the bedroom of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling.

Zhongshan Scenic Area:

Zhongshan Mountain stands at an altitude of 448.9 meters. From west to east, there are three major scenic spots on the mountain: Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and Linggu Temple. Among them, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum are must-visit attractions in Nanjing. Since you're in Nanjing, you must visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, which is the tomb of Sun Yat-sen. You can reach it by walking up the stairs. The only remaining building from the Ming dynasty's Linggu Temple, the Wuliangdian (a hall without beams), is still located on the central axis. Such a large hall is entirely constructed with bricks and stones without using a single beam or column. Don't miss it.