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Use Nanjing’s metro for cross-city travel and walk within areas such as Qinhuai and Xuanwu Lake. Zhongshan Scenic Area needs an additional connection from the metro. Xiamafang station is not Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum’s entrance, and Nanjing railway station is not Nanjing South: those distinctions matter more than memorising every line.
Plan by area
| Area | Stations to compare | Practical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Xinjiekou | Xinjiekou | Select the exit for the actual shopping centre |
| Confucius Temple, Qinhuai and Laomendong | Fuzimiao, Wudingmen or Sanshanjie | Walk through the district and leave from another end |
| Xuanwu Lake | Xuanwumen on Line 1; also Jimingsi or Gangzicun | Choose the shore you want to walk |
| Zhongshan Scenic Area | Xiamafang, Muxuyuan, Xiaolingwei or Zhonglingjie | Choose the metro connection for your first attraction |
Non-official geographic map of Nanjing around Xuanwu Lake, Qinhuai and Zhongshan. Use it for city-area geography, not Zhongshan sightseeing-shuttle routes or ticket coverage.
Licence & attribution
Qinhuai’s busiest lanes may have vehicle restrictions. A map pin beside a restaurant does not guarantee car access. For a pickup, walk to a clear, legal location outside the densest pedestrian area.
Entering Zhongshan
For the mausoleum or Meiling Palace area, compare connections from Line 2’s Xiamafang station. Zhonglingjie can suit Linggu, while Ming Xiaoling requires choosing an actual gate. Muxuyuan is another access point, but some onward services have weekday, peak-season or traffic-control conditions.
- Choose your first attraction, entrance and reservation time.
- Find the metro station plus the ordinary bus, sightseeing shuttle or walk needed afterwards.
- Check the vehicle and fare before boarding; city buses and scenic-area shuttles are different.
- Save the return boarding point and final departure before beginning the visit.
Shuttles reduce some walking, but visits such as the mausoleum still involve walking and steps. With limited stamina, two carefully chosen sights and a proper break can work better than trying to cover every stop.
RMB10 single ride or RMB30 day ticket?
The management authority lists general sightseeing transfers at RMB10 per ride, ending when you alight, or RMB30 for unlimited rides that day. The special commentary route within Ming Xiaoling has separate pricing and is excluded. Confirm the current sales notice and intended route when buying.
Two single rides cost RMB20, three cost RMB30 and four would cost RMB40. An unlimited ticket helps when the actual itinerary needs repeated rides; it is not necessary for one attraction with a return transfer. Transport tickets, attraction admission and reservations are separate.
Metro payment and city buses
Use an activated Nanjing metro code, accepted transit card or single ticket. Test the payment method before joining the gate queue and use the same credential to exit. Taiwan’s EasyCard and iPASS are not local transit cards; Hong Kong visitors should check their specific Octopus product’s mainland compatibility.
Look up the fare between your actual stations. Changing lines inside the paid area does not mean buying a new ticket each time, but a city bus or scenic shuttle is a separate service. Check the chosen app or card’s conditions before assuming a discount or overseas-card link applies.
Holiday tourist buses and extra departures can be date-specific. Check the day’s service instead of relying on a Spring Festival or National Day timetable throughout the year.
Luggage and the return
Leave large bags at your hotel or a confirmed storage service. Check locker size and collection hours, and avoid finishing at a distant gate if you must retrieve luggage. For a car, use an accessible pickup point on the area’s edge.
Scenic shuttles can finish before the metro. Check that first connection as well as the later train. After dinner in Qinhuai, verify all onward metro connections and follow staff directions if entrances are controlled.
See Shanghai to Nanjing transport for rail arrivals and the Nanjing accommodation guide for a convenient base. On departure day, match the station to your ticket and allow separately for national-rail security and boarding.
Frequently asked questions
Is the mausoleum immediately outside Xiamafang station?
No. Allow for the scenic-area transfer or walk and the remaining approach to admission.
Does the RMB30 Zhongshan ticket cover the city metro?
No. It is a scenic-area transport product, not a city transit pass.
Must I enter Xuanwu Lake through Xuanwu Gate?
No. Other approaches suit different shores. Entering and leaving at different points can reduce backtracking.
Can I visit Zhongshan before an intercity departure?
Keep the visit limited and leave early. You need the scenic-area exit, city transport, the correct railway station and boarding procedures.