Nanjing day tour travel guide: See all the top attractions in one day

Many people think a trip to Nanjing means only Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, but this Nanjing day tour is different. In a single day, it links the Buddhist realm of Niushou Mountain, the Six Dynasties atmosphere of Confucius Temple, and a century of history at the Presidential Palace—no rushing, no filler. A private car picks you up at Nanjing Railway Station, and your first stop is Niushou Mountain. Its twin peaks resemble a bull's horns; it was called "Tianque Mountain" in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and is also known locally as Niutou Mountain. Take about two and a half hours to stroll slowly and see Usnisa Palace and ancient temples nestled among the hills and water. Next, move on to the Confucius Temple–Qinhuai Scenic Belt. Since the Six Dynasties, the Qinhuai River has been home to noble families and bustling merchants, earning it the nickname "Six Dynasties Glamour." Half an hour isn't long, but it's enough to stand by the river and sense the literary spirit and lively atmosphere that have lingered for a thousand years. Your last stop is the Presidential Palace, where over 600 years of history converge—the subtlety of Jiangnan gardens alongside architectural relics from the era when Western styles arrived in China, all in one compound. Seventy minutes is plenty to travel through several eras. After the tour, you'll be dropped back at Nanjing Railway Station, wrapping up a smooth, no-nonsense Nanjing itinerary.