First time in Nanjing? Plan your itinerary first
On your first trip to Nanjing, it's hard to explore the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, city wall and Qinhuai River in depth all in one day. This article breaks down the day tour, slow-paced tour and Nanjing-Yangzhou combo by history & culture guided tour and family slow travel. Ticket prices are subject to on-site rates, and a written itinerary will be provided once confirmed.
To skip the lines, join the group tour 2-day Nanjing trip. To match your own pace, use private custom travel. Book airport or South Station transfers, a private car for multiple stops, and hire a guide for commentary.
Above: Stone steps and Republican-era architecture near Meiling Palace (illustrative). For a relaxed family trip, link the plane tree avenue, Meiling Palace and a midday break to avoid nonstop climbing.
Who should choose private custom tours with a car and guide
Best for: first-time visitors to Nanjing; those wanting a Chinese- or multilingual-speaking history and culture guide; families with seniors or kids who need to limit walking; travelers with lots of luggage who want fewer transfers; and anyone combining Nanjing with Yangzhou, Suzhou or Shanghai. If you know how real-name booking and local transit work and prefer booking tickets and hotels yourself, independent travel may be more flexible. If low prices and fixed meeting points matter most, compare our group tours.
Inquiries are free and don't equal an order. Hotel availability, vehicle type, guide language and tickets all depend on resources at the time of confirmation and the written itinerary. Anything that can't be confirmed will be noted separately—we never make empty promises in advance.
Three adjustable sample routes (not fixed packages)
1) Nanjing history day tour: Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum — Presidential Palace or a museum — Qinhuai River night views. Best for fit travelers who want commentary; add a guide to control the pace.
2) Nanjing relaxed family trip: Meiling Palace or the plane tree avenue — midday break — intangible cultural heritage experience or the city wall, minimizing continuous walking. With seniors or kids, book a private car to cut down on transfers, plus station transfers.
3) 3-day Nanjing and Yangzhou: Nanjing cultural commentary—Yangzhou gardens and Slender West Lake—drop-off in Nanjing or Shanghai based on your return plans. Cross-city drive times and hotels depend on actual availability, making the whole trip better suited for private customized travel.
Above: Family visitors posing at a historical site. For family or senior groups, we recommend agreeing on wake-up times and must-see spots first, then deciding whether to add a private guide or switch to a group tour.
Guides, vehicles and transfers can be booked separately
You can book just a private guide, airport/high-speed rail transfers, a single-day private car, inter-city transport, or ticket assistance—or combine them into a complete private custom trip. Your travel consultant will list inclusions and exclusions before confirmation.
When requesting a guide, please specify the language, focus (Republican-era architecture/Ming city wall/museums, etc.) and duration; when requesting a vehicle, note the number of passengers, luggage and child seats. Drivers handle driving and luggage logistics but do not provide commentary by default; a private guide handles attraction commentary and on-site communication. Specific resources are subject to confirmation.
Above: Close-up of the Qinhuai lotus lantern crafting table. Family slow travel itineraries can include intangible cultural heritage experiences, but avoid packing them back-to-back. Session times and fees are subject to on-site announcements.
How is the cost estimated? Why don't you quote a fixed per-person price?
Costs vary based on pickup and drop-off locations, vehicle hours, guide language, attractions, accommodation, and whether the trip crosses city limits. Two people in a five-seat car cost differently than six people in a van; holiday hotel availability and intercity travel costs may also differ from weekdays. Without dates and group size, any low or high estimate can hardly represent what you'll actually pay.
For a quote close to the final price, please provide all at once: expected dates, number of adults and children, arrival and departure points, places you want to visit, accommodation preferences and approximate budget. The more complete your info, the less back-and-forth. Our travel consultant should itemize confirmable costs and note anything unconfirmed separately.
Above: Boats along the willow-lined banks of Slender West Lake with the pagoda reflection—a good reference for the Nanjing-Yangzhou combo leg. Boat tickets and park transport are subject to on-site rates. For the cross-city drive, booking a private car or arranging the whole trip as private customized travel is much easier.
What to confirm before booking
Some memorial venues in Nanjing are closed on Mondays or require reservations, and traffic control around the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum area is strict during holidays. Our travel consultant will adjust the order based on opening hours, but venue announcements always prevail.
Before confirming, double-check: the service provider, daily routes and reasonable driving times, guide language, vehicle type and usage hours, hotel and ticket inclusions, plus payment, change and cancellation policies. Keep important details in your chat history and written itinerary.
Five steps from inquiry to departure
① Provide your dates, group size, arrival/departure details and any companion needs; ② confirm whether the route is feasible; ③ decide whether to combine station transfers/private car/guide only/hotels/tickets; ④ review the written itinerary; ⑤ double-check flights, high-speed trains and attraction policies before departure. Visa and entry requirements are subject to official authorities.
Adjusting the pace for families, seniors and kids
Traveling with seniors: reduce continuous walking and excessive intercity travel, and allow time for an afternoon rest; mention wheelchair needs in advance. Traveling with kids: provide ages, heights, child seat needs and nap habits; child ticket rules depend on the policy at the time of booking. Friends traveling together should agree on a budget and must-see spots first. For these scenarios, prioritize a custom private trip or a private car+guide only; you can also compare group tours covering the key sights.
FAQ
What's a solid itinerary for a first visit to Nanjing?
Start with your stamina and interests: for in-depth commentary, choose a history day tour; for less walking, pick a family slow tour; add Yangzhou if you want to cross cities. Not sure? Just send your dates and group size to a travel consultant to draft a workable route via a custom private trip; or check out the group tour "2-Day Nanjing Tour."
How do I choose between a family private car and station transfers?
If you have lots of luggage, are traveling with seniors or kids, or arrive/depart at night, prioritize point-to-point airport/train station transfers. For multiple stops in one day (Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum—Presidential Palace—Qinhuai), use a private car to minimize transfers. Schedules and vehicle types are subject to confirmation.
How do I book a history and culture guide?
Specify your language, the topics you want to cover (Republican-era architecture/Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum/Presidential Palace/museums), and the duration. You can hire a guide separately or include one in a custom private trip. Guides cannot bypass reservation or security check rules.
How many stops are right for a relaxed day?
For a relaxed family trip, we suggest one main stop in the morning, a midday break, and one lighter stop in the afternoon; evening sights are extra. Cramming in more than four major stops usually hurts the experience later in the day. Have a consultant adjust the plan to your energy level with a custom private trip.
Can I ask questions before setting my dates?
Yes. Provide the month, number of days, group size and main interests first, and our travel consultant can suggest a route direction; an exact quote still requires confirmed dates and availability. Inquiring doesn't mean you have to book right away.
How do group tours and custom trips work together?
For a hassle-free visit to the core attractions, choose the group tour 2-day Nanjing tour. If you want commentary, hotels and pacing tailored to your needs, opt for custom private travel. Use station transfers for arrivals and departures, a private car for multiple stops, and hire a guide separately for commentary.
Send your dates and group size to a consultant and turn it into your itinerary
We recommend sending us directly: your planned dates + number of adults and children + arrival and departure locations + places you'd like to visit + whether you want a history and culture guide/relaxed family tour. You can first compare our group tours, or leave it to our custom private travel; for arrivals and departures, book station transfers; for multiple stops, use a private car; and for commentary, add a separate guide. Confirm the details before booking.