📘 Part of our complete guide to student exchange in China

City Snapshot

Nanjing was China’s capital for six dynasties and again under the Ming and the Republic, so history is everywhere: the world’s longest surviving Ming city wall, Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum on Purple Mountain and lantern-lit lanes along the Qinhuai River. It is green, relaxed and noticeably cheaper than Shanghai, with more than a million university students. Best months: late March–May and October–November; summers are among China’s hottest.

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Eat Like a Local

Neighbourhoods

Purple Mountain

Nanjing’s green eastern edge holds three of its biggest sights: the Ming Xiaoling tomb, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Linggu Temple. Go early — entry to Ming Xiaoling is free before 6:30 from February to November. Full plan: A Student Day on Purple Mountain.

Plan Your Days

Nanjing Through the Seasons

Season	What to expect
Spring (Mar–May)	The best season: plum blossom on Purple Mountain (Feb–Mar), cherry blossom by Jiming Temple (late March), 10–25°C
Summer (Jun–Aug)	One of China’s “furnace” cities — 35°C+ and humid, with the plum-rain season from mid-June; spend middays in museums
Autumn (Oct–Nov)	Golden ginkgo and red maple on Purple Mountain and at Qixia Mountain; avoid Golden Week (1–7 October)
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Cold and damp, around 0–8°C, with little indoor heating; lantern fairs at Laomendong and the Confucius Temple for Spring Festival

Study in Nanjing

Nanjing University splits its exchange students between two campuses: Chinese language classes are at the historic Gulou campus in the city centre, while most subject courses are at Xianlin in the eastern suburbs on Metro Line 2. Full details: Nanjing University Exchange Guide.

Going to a different university? Search all university guides or suggest yours.

Student life in Nanjing (tap to expand)

• University areas: Gulou in the centre (Nanjing University’s Gulou campus, Nanjing Normal University, Hohai University) and the Xianlin university town on Metro 2 in the east.
• Going out: 1912 Block by the Presidential Palace for bars, Shanghai Road and Gulou for cafés, Laomendong and the Confucius Temple for night snacks.
• Weekends: hike Purple Mountain, walk a section of the wall, or take a fast train to Yangzhou or Suzhou.
• Costs: noticeably cheaper than Shanghai — try the budget calculator.

Getting around Nanjing (tap to expand)

• Metro: 15 lines, fares from ¥2; pay with the Alipay or WeChat transit code.
• Airport: Lukou (NKG) — Metro S1 to Nanjing South in about 38 minutes, then change lines.
• Rail: Nanjing South is the main high-speed hub (Shanghai, Beijing, Hefei, Huangshan); Nanjing Railway Station by Xuanwu Lake also has many Shanghai and Yangzhou trains.
• Bikes: shared bikes are ideal around Xuanwu Lake and along the Qinhuai.

Last updated: September 2026. Prices, opening hours and rules in China change often — treat costs as estimates and confirm anything important with the official source before you go.

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